Changes to GESY presciptions

[Uncle D]

I went to the Pharmacy yesterday to get my prescription, The pharmacist told me that from 6/10/21, if you have more than 5 items (I have) any of those that are in a similar group ie (I have two types of diuretics) from 6/10 there will be only a subsidy for one of them and I will have to pay full price for the other.
Does anyone know of this, and clarify if they know any more
Thanks

[trevnhil]

This is the first I have heard of this, and my pharmacist didn't mention it a couple of weeks ago.
But maybe it didn't affect me so he saw no need to mention it.

What a difference in what we pay now, from when it was 50cent an item at the Hospital Pharmacy

[galexinda]

Perhaps send an email to the GESY information centre: info@gesy.org.cy

[JimX]

galexinda has the right idea either email them or call your GP....as I will in a few hours.

[Varky]

This is the first I have heard of this, and my pharmacist didn't mention it a couple of weeks ago.
But maybe it didn't affect me so he saw no need to mention it.
What a difference in what we pay now, from when it was 50cent an item at the Hospital Pharmacy

Would you really want to go back to the 'good old days' when you had to wait long hours to see a GP (even if you had an appointment) and then wait ages to get your prescription from the hospital pharmacy and that's after having to push and shove even to get into the room where the prescriptions were dispensed.

[trevnhil]

No I wouldn't.. Nor have I mentioned anywhere that I would

[JimX]

My GP said there are changes to the current payment system, I had to pay a little extra on the usual costs for my usual prescription, no complaints from me the GESY system is a vast improvement than the old one, I'm sure we would all agree.

[trevnhil]

Yes I do agree, and a small additional cost for some items will not be too much

[jeba]

What seems safe to say in my view is that the current funding will prove to be insufficient. A contribution of 2.65% of your salary is ridiculously low. Just for comparison: the equivalent in Germany is 15% (plus some more for nursing care insurance). And public health insurance companies are already starting to call for a raise because of covid.

[WHL]

What seems safe to say in my view is that the current funding will prove to be insufficient. A contribution of 2.65% of your salary is ridiculously low. Just for comparison: the equivalent in Germany is 15% (plus some more for nursing care insurance). And public health insurance companies are already starting to call for a raise because of covid.

What is the average wage in Germany, compared to the average wage in Cyprus, there is your answer.

[jeba]

What seems safe to say in my view is that the current funding will prove to be insufficient. A contribution of 2.65% of your salary is ridiculously low. Just for comparison: the equivalent in Germany is 15% (plus some more for nursing care insurance). And public health insurance companies are already starting to call for a raise because of covid.

What is the average wage in Germany, compared to the average wage in Cyprus, there is your answer.

Not really. On the contrary, as wages are higher so is the funding which flows to the healthcare system. Apart from that, the average wage is higher, but surely not by a factor of almost 6.
I think it´s inevitable that either the contributions to GESY need to be raised or benefits cut, or you´ll have to wait longer for your appointments.

[jeba]

Tax returns for everyone need to be enforced

I disagree. Why should e.g. a holder of a S1 form who doesn´t have to pay for Gesy have to file a tax return unless he has taxable income?

[Varky]

No I wouldn't.. Nor have I mentioned anywhere that I would

Nor did you mention that you wouldn't. I was just asking although I think I already knew the answer.

[Varky]

Don't forget that those of us from UK with a S1 are having some of their expenses paid by the UK government. Not all of GESY income comes from tax. Some come via specialist charges or via other services

[wantoosoon]

What seems safe to say in my view is that the current funding will prove to be insufficient. A contribution of 2.65% of your salary is ridiculously low. Just for comparison: the equivalent in Germany is 15% (plus some more for nursing care insurance). And public health insurance companies are already starting to call for a raise because of covid.

According to a Gesy leaflet I recently picked up, employees pay 2.65% and their employers pay 2.9%. The self-employed pay 4%, while other income (interest, rent, dividends) attracts a 2.65% charge. Pensioners pay 2.65% of any income. The revenue base is a little wider than you make out, though admittedly not very much.

[WHL]

Tax returns for everyone need to be enforced

I disagree. Why should e.g. a holder of a S1 form who doesn´t have to pay for Gesy have to file a tax return unless he has taxable income?

Because you live here, that's why.

[PhotoLady]

Would you really want to go back to the 'good old days' when you had to wait long hours to see a GP (even if you had an appointment) and then wait ages to get your prescription from the hospital pharmacy and that's after having to push and shove even to get into the room where the prescriptions were dispensed.

That's not something we ever experienced under the old 50 cent per item prescription charge. I always had multiple prescribed items which my repeats were issued at the fortnightly GP visits into the community centre in the next village, with my prescription being issued on the premises or if unavailable, taking it to Limassol General.

In fact, my husband pretty much collected all of my prescriptions for the last 3 to 4yrs while I was working up until we left Cyprus in 2016, during the good old days and well before the Gesy system came in.

[Varky]

PhotoLady,
Your experience seems only to refer to repeat prescriptions and the local service regarding repeat prescriptions was suspended in our village, I suspect after you left Cyprus. More complicated situations meant more regular visits to a doctor at the General. You were the exception that proved the rule (whatever that means). At the moment any prescription issued by a GESY GP can be filled by virtually any pharmacy without the need to travel to Limassol.

[PhotoLady]

Varky, we didn't have to go to Limassol. We didn't live in Paphos. But the system then was if the pharmacy with the visiting fortnightly doctor didn't have the meds available, it could only be provided by the hospital pharmacy. It was literally just a few minutes along the road from us and no further than the village we got my repeats from.
I had numerous visits to see doctors ar the main hospital, as well as consultant appointments, treatment and medications prescribed without any issues.
If we had to go to the hospital for the GP appointment, we never went before 10am as all the queues from those who had turned up at the crack of dawn had disappeared and we rarely waited more than 20 minutes to be told which doctor we were seeing.
I had scans, gastroscopy and blood tests for several months and ended up as an inpatient one Sunday afternoon with a suspected DVT. That led to several ultrasound appointments for a few weeks too.

The new system, from what I've seen on here and groups, it seems to be working pretty well. But it's odd if a GP or Pharmacist suddenly comes out with a statement which appears to change the goalposts and should definitely be followed up with questions asked.

[Varky]

PhotoLady,
Have you experienced the new GESY arrangements at all.