Nicosia, Cyprus. The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) said on Friday new regulations on replacements between Gesy personal doctors will take effect next month to curb abuses involving substitute arrangements. The changes set limits on how many doctors a physician can replace at once and how many beneficiaries can be served under replacement agreements.
Limits on replacements and beneficiary numbers
Under the new framework, a GP will be allowed to replace up to four colleagues simultaneously, provided the combined number of patients under their care does not exceed 5,000, including beneficiaries already registered on their own list.
Criticism over permanent substitute arrangements
The reforms follow criticism raised last year in parliament over practices in which some doctors who had already reached the legal ceiling of 2,500 registered patients continued accepting more through permanent replacement arrangements with colleagues.
House committee discussion and complaints
The issue was discussed before the House human rights committee after complaints from parents who said their children had been registered under pediatricians they had never met, while continuing to receive care from their original doctor. During those discussions, the HIO said existing rules had created a “loophole” exploited through continuous replacement agreements.
Conditions and time limits for substitutions
The organisation informed GPs this week that substitutions will now only be permitted under specific conditions, including illness, vacation leave, maternity or paternity leave, conference participation, professional obligations, and family or personal reasons. The total duration of replacement due to absence or incapacity will be capped at 90 days per calendar year.
Longer absences and added restrictions
Doctors requiring longer absences will need to submit a special request to the organisation or temporarily suspend their registration as Gesy providers. Additional restrictions will apply to doctors operating within the same polyclinic or medical premises.
How do you think the new limits will affect access to Gesy personal doctors?
