Cyprus Travel Answers

In all EU member states, EHIC provides for emergency medical treatment in the event of accident, sudden illness like food poisoning. It only covers treatment in State facilities (so not if your hotel calls a private doctor or private ambulance) and it isn't a substitute for an insurance policy covering repatriation etc.

It is advisable to take out additional travel insurance. As Gaminari says, EHIC will provide care at a State level - nothing wrong with that at all and often State care is as good as or better than other private facilities. However, EHIC will not provide for sending you back to your home country for treatment i.e. by ambulance or special plane or whatever. There are the odd cases when the EHIC will provide cover for private care but only when there is no appropriate State care available within a reasonable vicinity within a reasonable time - as you can imagine, what you might think it reasonable is not necessarily that of the EHIC. One scenario that springs to mind is being bitten by a venomous snake and requiring immediate care, a private place being 200 yards away but the state care is 15 miles. You will, however, be able to recoup the cost of any medicines provided by a private health provider but not the cost of services provided by a private health provider. Much, much easier to just take out travel insurance.

What the two other members stated it is correct. See also this link. easterncyprus.com/archive/cy...

I would agree with the others that taking out travel insurance as well is a very good idea indeed. It need not cost very much at all...check what the Post Office have on offer. It's not sensible just to rely on the EHIC. As noted, it won't cover e.g. repatriation. This NHS page tells you how to access healthcare in Cyprus: nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare... It details the cost of basic treatment (sometimes, with an EHIC, you have to pay and claim reimbursement once you are back in the UK) and notes that you will *not* be covered for Northern Cyprus.

thank you for all your comments and advice. I now fully appreciate why travel insurance is a good idea. however, as a couple in our 70s with pre-existing medical conditions, travel insurance is very expensive. we already have some cover, ie possessions, on our contents insurance. the main point of my original question was to ask anyone who has used the public medical facilities in cyprus, whether these are adequate should a medical emergency arise eg a heart attack?

I have no reason to think that Cypriot state medical provision is any less adequate than UK NHS provision (the EHIC only covers you for state medical care). It will be difficult for any member to comment unless they have had personal experience of using Cypriot state provision for major health problems. I would still strongly urge you to find additional travel health insurance. The EHIC will not cover you for repatriation costs if you are taken ill (nor the air ambulance costs, should one be needed) and those costs can be very high indeed. I've done a dummy quote on saga.co.uk/insurance/campaig... and come up with just over £77 for both of you for a week in Cyprus. That's not bad, imo, and perhaps worth the peace of mind? There are plenty of other insurance companies offering similar policies, so it is worth exploring and getting quotes. If you have existing medical conditions then the premiums may be higher, but if you have existing medical conditions then the chances of needing medial treatment when on holiday are also higher.