Cyprus is a major European tourist destination. If you are visiting for a short period and need sexual healthcare, you operate outside the national GeSY health system. However, crucial emergency and preventative services remain freely available to you.

🚨 Emergency Situations

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

If you have had a high-risk exposure to HIV within the last 72 hours, you can access emergency PEP at any public hospital's Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. The medication itself is typically provided free of charge, though you may have to pay a standard A&E visitor fee (around €10–€30) unless covered by EHIC. Read the full PEP Emergency Guide for details on where to go.

Chemsex Emergencies

If you or a partner are experiencing a GHB/GBL overdose or a severe chemsex-related crisis, dial 112 for an ambulance. Medical staff in Cyprus prioritize saving lives over policing personal drug use. See the Chemsex Support Guide for more context.

🩺 Routine Testing as a Tourist

As a non-resident, you cannot use the GeSY system to get subsidized lab tests.

Free Rapid Testing

You can visit the Cy Checkpoint in Nicosia (run by the AIDS Solidarity Movement). They provide free, anonymous, and rapid finger-prick testing for HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B/C to anyone, regardless of residency status. See the Cy Checkpoint Guide.

Full-Panel Swabs (Chlamydia & Gonorrhea)

If you need comprehensive testing (including throat, rectal, and urethral swabs for bacterial STIs), you must go to a private laboratory and pay out-of-pocket. You do not need a doctor's referral to do this at a private clinic. Expect to pay between €50 and €100 for a full screening panel depending on the lab.

💊 PrEP Access for Visitors

Cyprus provides PrEP for free to anyone physically in the country, including tourists.

If you run out of PrEP while on holiday, you can contact the Cyprus PrEP Point (run by the AIDS Solidarity Movement) at +357 99 607 005. They can advise you on how to secure an emergency appointment at one of the specialized HIV clinics (like the Grigorios Clinic in Larnaca) to obtain a refill. See the PrEP Access Guide.

🏥 Using the EHIC

If you are an EU citizen traveling with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare under the same conditions as a Cypriot resident.

  • Valid for: Emergency A&E visits (e.g., for PEP) and acute urgent care.
  • Not valid for: Routine, non-urgent STI screening or picking up a regular PrEP prescription.

If you rely on your EHIC, ensure you carry the physical card or the digital equivalent and present it immediately upon arriving at a public hospital.

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