The Health Insurance Organisation has established a 24-hour emergency hotline operating seven days a week to handle life-threatening medical cases requiring overseas treatment without delay.
Hospitals and doctors have been informed of procedures and telephone numbers, whilst dedicated staff teams remain on standby around the clock. The system aims to expedite transfers for patients whose conditions doctors classify as life-threatening.
“We believe we are ready to take on the programme of sending patients abroad after completing all necessary preparations,” Dr Monica Kyriacou, a senior Health Insurance Organisation official, told Phileleftheros.
Three-tier patient classification system introduced
Doctors will categorise cases as life-threatening, urgent, or routine, determining the appropriate response mechanism. Life-threatening cases will trigger the special emergency protocol immediately.
Most life-threatening cases emerge in Accident and Emergency departments. When patients require urgent specialised care, A&E units must first contact other available hospitals with emergency departments within the health system.
If no facility can provide adequate treatment, the treating hospital will contact the Health Insurance Organisation’s dedicated number.
During 24-hour operations, one Health Insurance Organisation officer and one supervisor remain on standby duty, responding to doctors’ calls without delay.
Expert teams on standby for urgent cases
When emergency transfer requests arrive, expert teams assembled by the Health Insurance Organisation activate immediately.
However, the system does not require responses from all expert team members, particularly during night hours or holidays when immediate availability may be limited.
“Even receiving one positive expert opinion allows the procedure to advance to the next stage,” Kyriacou explained. The mechanism then identifies suitable hospitals abroad and, when necessary, arranges air ambulance services.
The entire process must complete within hours for life-threatening cases, with assessment finishing within 24 hours. Urgent non-life-threatening cases receive evaluation within four days and processing within seven days. Routine cases complete assessment within 15 days.
The Health Insurance Organisation has compiled a list of partner hospitals abroad, which will be published on the health system’s website.
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