The first phase of the much-debated General Healthcare System of Cyprus (GHS or most commonly, GESY), has officially been entered into this 1st of March 2019. GESY will be operating through a centralized Fund for the collection of contributions by subscribers, to be used for the compensation of service providers.
The System will be implemented in two phases; the first phase, to commence on the 1st of June 2019, with the introduction of outpatient healthcare ie. personal doctors, laboratories, pharmacists etc. The second phase, to commence on the 1st of June 2020, will introduce the remaining service providers.
The collection of contributions for the first phase is in effect as of the 1st of March 2019 until the 28th of February 2020, while the collection for the second phase is set to commence on the 1st of March 2020.
The categories of contributors include employees and employers, the state, self-employed persons, pensioners, income-earners, government officials and persons responsible for the payment of remuneration to government officials.
Contribution percentages range from 1,65% to 4,70% depending on the implementation phase and category. Indicatively, public and private sector employees will be subject to a 1,70% contribution on their salaries during the first phase, and 2,65% on the second, as will be pensioners, income-earners and government officials.
The body responsible for the administration of the funds will be the Health Insurance Organization (commonly, OAY), which will be subject to an outside independent Supervisor and Supervising Committee.
