Families accompanying relatives abroad for medical treatment in Cyprus are experiencing significant financial hardship as they wait for state support, according to the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (CyFPA). Many are forced to quit jobs, take out loans, and cover thousands of euros in expenses upfront while waiting months for reimbursements. The current scheme uses the previous tax year's household income to assess eligibility, which CyFPA says does not reflect families' real financial situations during treatment.

The federation highlights that accompanying adults for seriously ill patients is often a necessity, not a choice, yet support is typically limited by income thresholds and other rules. Delays in payments, lack of recognition for hospital stay costs, and insufficient provisions for cases like living-donor transplants exacerbate families' burdens. CyFPA is urging the government to abolish the €100,000 income threshold, introduce faster and periodic payments, and simplify procedures for chronic patients requiring repeated treatments abroad.

The Health Ministry and government are reportedly reviewing potential changes following discussions with patient groups and President Nikos Christodoulides, aiming to address these systemic weaknesses and better support families facing the dual financial pressures of overseas treatment and ongoing obligations at home.