Treatment abroad: Cyprus 

Cyprus, a Mediterranean gem, offers a unique blend of high-quality healthcare services, with specialties in cardiology, orthopaedics, and cosmetic surgery, making it an attractive destination for medical tourists seeking expert care in a picturesque setting.

Cyprus offers high standards of private healthcare and dental treatment at a very competitive cost. It’s an excellent location to consider for low cost dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. The Cyprus healthcare system has improved tremendously and is something that both the administration and the practitioners can be justifiably proud of. The Cyprus Health Promotion Board brings together healthcare providers across Cyprus to deliver services to residents, holidaymakers, visitors and travelling patients.

The north side of the island is not ruled by the regulation of the official Cyprus government or the EU.

Why consider Cyprus for medical tourism?

A temperate climate and 3,000 hours of sunshine each year makes Cyprus an idyllic location for healthcare treatments abroad. Affectionately known as the Island of Aphrodite, this captivating country has an abundance of historical sites and activities to entertain and rejuvenate the visitor, as well as glorious stretches of coastline and fresh, clean air due to the lack of heavy industry.

Flying time from the UK or mainland Europe to Larnaca is four and a half hours and long-haul flights are available from anywhere in the world. Many patients take advantage of Cyprus’s mild spring and autumn weather and the cheaper air fares at this time.

Nikosia (also known as Lefkosia) is the capital of Cyprus and located at the very heart of the island. It is a modern sophisticated city and the commercial centre where many cosmetic surgery and dental clinics are located. Other major towns are Larnaca, Pafos and Limassol (also known as Lemesos), which is a seaside resort on the south coast and another popular location for private health clinics.

Board certified doctors and surgeons who offer cosmetic surgery and other private medical procedures are trained either in the UK or the US. They work in modern facilities that are designed for comfort and efficiency, using the latest technology and equipment to provide expert dentistry and cosmetic surgery. The surgeons work with quality anaesthetists and nurses and medical personnel involved in health tourism speak English as well as Greek and Turkish, including the nursing staff. Cypriots are well known for their hospitality.

Affordable private dental treatment is available in Cyprus and techniques and procedures are of the very top level. The Nicosia Dental Polyclinic (a specialist dental polyclinic, not just cosmetic dentistry) offer a ten year guarantee on implants. Laser whitening can be obtained at the Nicosia Dental Polyclinic from around €350.

Cosmetic surgery prices are also very competitive in Cyprus. Rhinoplasty (nose re-shaping), for example, costs around €2400* while Breast Augmentation costs €2900 to €4000*. (Quotes supplied by Picture Perfect Medical Co-coordinators).

Reasons to choose Cyprus

High standards ofprivate healthcare and dental treatment

Treatments at a fraction of mostEuropean prices

Most practitioners UK or US trained

Welcoming laid back island with popular resorts

Short flight from mainland Europe

Warm climate with year round sunshine

The healthcare system in Cyprus

Healthcare in Cyprus is of a very high standard and is recognised by the World Health Organisation as being of the same level as developed countries such as the UK and US. Cyprus attracts around 2.4 million tourists every year, an increasing number of which are medical tourists. Cyprus’ pleasant climate also attracts many foreign nationals, and as a result of this, many medical professionals are foreign-trained, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Cyprus maintains a good sanitation system and clean running water which ensures a hygienic environment, and vaccinations are not required for foreign visitors due to the low level of infectious diseases. The Cypriot government has put a strong emphasis on preventative medicine, and as a result, life expectancy remains high at 80.4 years for women and 75.3 years for men.

The various Government hospitals in Cyprus’ major cities offer free medical and emergency medical care to everyone, and there are a number of hospitals and clinics throughout Cyprus providing a high standard of private healthcare at modest rates. While the private sector is mainly concentrated in the urban areas, the public health services provide adequate coverage for the rural areas, ensuring accessibility through a network of rural hospitals, rural health centres, sub-centres and dispensaries.

Cyprus has an international reputation for its preventative medicine programs which have managed to practically eliminate diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis and Echinococcus. The Cypriot Government maintains these high standards through health education, inoculations, control of epidemics and infectious diseases, the disposal of sewage and the control of the quality of drinking water.

The north side of the island is not ruled by the regulation of the official Cyprus government or the EU.

Travel and accommodation in Cyprus

Cyprus has two international airports, at Larnaca and Pafos, with Larnaca being the main arrival point for international scheduled flights. Larnaca International Airport is located 5km south of the centre and is a 30 minute drive to Nicosia (about 45 km). Pafos International Airport is roughly a seventy minute drive to Nicosia and is mainly for charter flights.

There are several scheduled airlines running daily flights to Larnaca from European countries as well as a range of charter companies running packaged vacation breaks to Cyprus. The flight time is four and a half hours from London to Pafos or Larnaca. Scheduled airlines flying to Cyprus include Cyprus Airways, Helios AirwaysandBritish Airways. There is also a bundle of charter airlines flying from the UK, such as Thomson, which operate from 12 UK airports. Charter flights can be booked through web sites such as Cheapflights or Lastminute.

International flights come into Lanarca from the Arab Emirates, Greece, Bahrain, the USA, Scotland, Russia, Israel, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy and Germany. Flights to Beirut may be affected by the volatile situation in Syria.

Cyprus Hilton Hotel in Nicosia

There are no trains in Cyprus so you need to get around the island by bus, taxi or car. You can take a taxi to Nicosia from the airport and these are readily available outside the airport terminal, with metered fares. The island’s inter-urban buses are also a good, cheap and reliable way to travel between the towns, and there are regular daily services. A number of bus companies link the major towns including the Lefkosia Interurban Bus Company which travels between Lefkosia and Lemesos, the Intercity Bus company covering Lefkosia to Larnaca, the Nea Amoroza Transport Co Ltd covering routes between Pafos and Polis, the PEAL Bus company between Paralimni, Larnaca and Protaras or the Eman Bus Company between Agia Napa and Larnaca.

The preferable mode of transport in Cyprus however is the car, not least because more remote interesting areas can’t be reached via the public transport system, but also because the roads are good, and four lane motorways connect the capital, Nikosia, with the coastal towns of Lemesos, Larnaca and Pafos. Rental cars in Cyprus are known as ‘Z’ Cars, due to a distinctive red licence plate with a ‘Z’ prefix and they can be booked at airport arrivals. Driving is on the left.

The currency in Cyprus has been the Euro since January 1 2008. The price for a four star hotel in Lemesos is roughly €60 on a B/B basis while a three star hotel in Lemesos costs €30 (on a B/B basis). A four star hotel in Nicosia costs roughly €90 on a B/B basis while a three star would be €50.

About Cyprus

The third largest of the Mediterranean islands, Cyprus lies in the East Mediterranean sea, West of Syria and South of Turkey. Cyprus is a fantastic place to visit, boasting clean white beaches and crystal clear waters, there’s no wonder it attracts over 2.4 million tourists every year. Whether you’re looking for high-octane water sports or a relaxing stay at a luxury resort, Cyprus is the ideal place to combine a holiday in the sun with the medical treatment you require.

Cyprus has a population of just under 871,000 people and is in fact the hottest and driest island in the Mediterranean. With 340 days of sunshine a year, cool summer clothes are the most common attire for the daytime, with light jumpers and jackets being the recommended evening and Winter-wear.

Cyprus is well known for being the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and it is often referred to as “Aphrodite’s island”. Here, visitors will find a rich variety of landscapes, from the pristine beaches of Ayia Napa in the East, to the beautiful mountain ranges of Kyrenia in the North. The Troodos Mountains can be found in the centre of the island, and in the Winter months you will find skiers enjoying the white slopes of the famous Mount Olympus.

Cyprus was once part of the British Empire and obtained independence from the United Kingdom back in 1960. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of Cyprus haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, and in 1964 the country was divided into the Turkish North and the Greek South by a cease-fire line which became known as “The Green Line”. The line runs right through the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, which is the only divided capital city in the world. Cyprus later became part of the European Union in 2004 and adopted the Euro in early 2008. The main language spoken in Cyprus is Greek, but English is widely spoken throughout the island.

Today, Cyprus is an island of great cultural diversity where visitors are able to explore Roman ruins, Greek temples and crusader castles, particularly in Paphos, which is one of Cyprus’ largest cities. Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of world heritage and was once the country’s capital.

A vibrant night life scene can be found in the main towns on the island, with the budding cafe culture of Limassol and Nicosia offering a more relaxed option. Cypriots are happiest when eating so join them for a mezze; a slow banquet of Cypriot delicacies such as grilled halloumi, dolmades and kleftiko (lamb slowly baked till it drops off the bone).