GHS System Revises Medication Co-Payments: Some Drugs to Become More Expensive, Others Cheaper

The Cyprus Ministry of Health has carried out its annual review of co-payments under the GHS system. Of the 2,419 medicinal products currently reimbursed by the state, changes affect 291 items.

According to the updated data:

• 197 medicines will become more expensive for patients — their personal co-payment will increase;
• 94 medicines, on the contrary, will become cheaper, and the co-payment for them will decrease.

The Health Insurance Organization (HIO) emphasized that patients are not obliged to pay a higher co-payment if a cheaper alternative with the same active substance and dosage is available on the market. In such cases, patients may ask the pharmacist to replace the prescribed brand with an equivalent medicine at no additional cost.

Doctors can also discuss with patients the choice of the most affordable medication option. To do this, the existing prescription must be cancelled and a new one issued for a cheaper interchangeable medicine.

Pharmacists, in turn, are legally obliged to inform patients of their right to switch to an equivalent medicine without extra charge. However, if a patient prefers to keep the original brand, they may do so by paying the updated — higher — amount, provided the medicine is included in the list of those that have become more expensive.

The full list of changes with current prices and co-payment amounts is published on the official websites of the Ministry of Health and the GHS system.