Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus MPs passed regulations reinstating certain healthcare benefits for civil servants and their families that are not available to the broader public under Gesy. The measures were approved despite lawmakers expressing reservations.
Vote and scope of the regulations
The regulations, tabled by the government, passed with 36 votes in favour and three abstentions. They apply to active and retired civil servants as well as members of their families.
Background to the reinstatement
Civil servants and pensioners had been eligible for these benefits until 2024, when they were abolished on the expectation that Gesy would cover the services. However, when Gesy was rolled out it did not include services such as dental care.
Eligible groups
Those eligible include all civil servants and their family members, including teachers, police, military officers and certain state officials.
Services and co-pay
The benefits include dental fillings, root canal therapy, tooth extraction and cleaning, and the fitting of dentures, with a co-pay of €3 per visit. The regulations also provide food supplements to people using a nasal tube due to difficulty feeding and flour supplements to people allergic to gluten.
Parliamentary reaction and calls for wider coverage
MPs said they had no choice but to approve restoring the benefits after they had been removed. They urged the government to return with new legislation that would extend these benefits to the entire population.
What changes, if any, would you like to see in healthcare benefits coverage under Gesy?