Calls in Cyprus for its own air medical evacuation service
In Cyprus, the Osak patients’ association has called for the creation of its own air medical evacuation service. At present, the Cyprus Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) purchases such services abroad, spending around €2.6 million a year on them, Cyprus Mail reports.
Transport via Greece and Israel
According to Osak, around 100 patients have required air transport abroad for health reasons over the past ten months. These are mainly critically ill people and patients who need organ transplants.
The association stated that Cyprus is entirely dependent on services provided by Greece and, to a lesser extent, Israel. Infants under 30 days old also require air transport, as the island lacks the necessary specialists for their treatment. Such cases require timely intervention, but dependence on foreign services may complicate the organisation of transport.
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Waiting time
Osak noted that the time after receiving a call can reach 15 hours. The association cited the example of a lung cancer patient who was unable to take advantage of an opportunity for a lung transplant abroad because no air transport was available.
In Osak’s view, Cyprus should begin with one air ambulance aircraft and then assess the need to expand the service. The association added that it has been raising this issue for a long time and, during a recent conversation with President Nikos Christodoulides, received assurances that it would be considered as part of the 2027 budget.
