GESY prescriptions are electronic and issued by your personal doctor or a specialist. They are dispensed by pharmacies with a GESY contract — most of them. The co-payment is €1 per item.
Opening hours
- Standard hours: weekdays 08:00–13:00 and 15:30–19:30, Saturday 08:00–13:00. Hours may shift in summer.
- Out-of-hours pharmacies (efimeria): weekdays 13:30–16:00 and 19:30–23:00, Wednesday and Saturday 13:30–23:00 without a break, Sunday and holidays 08:00–23:00.
- Today's out-of-hours pharmacy list is available on your city's paid recorded line (the numbers are in the "Emergency numbers" section) or on the Pharmaceutical Services website.
Foreign prescriptions
- A prescription from an EU country is valid in Cyprus if it carries: the patient's full surname and first name and date of birth; the date of issue; the prescriber's surname, first name, professional qualification, work address including the country, direct contact details and signature.
- The medicine must be given by its common (INN) name, not the brand: the brand may simply not exist here. The form, quantity, strength and dosage are needed too.
- An e-prescription from another country will not open in Cyprus — ask for a paper copy in advance.
- Dispensing follows Cypriot rules: the pharmacy applies local limits on quantity and timing, and the medicine may simply not be marketed in Cyprus.
What you can bring with you
- A personal supply of medicines for up to 90 days.
- Controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, ADHD medication) — only with a doctor's letter stating the name, dose and duration of treatment.
- Medicines in a cool bag larger than 100 ml go through in hand luggage without trouble, but it is better to carry a certificate.