The national health system is facing significant challenges with medicine waste, as pharmacists report patients returning multiple unopened prescriptions, including expensive cardiac medications worth hundreds of euros.
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has implemented restrictions on prescription software, but pharmacists continue to observe concerning patterns of over-prescription, Ploutarchos Georgiades, president of the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association, told philenews.
“At the current rate, beneficiaries will put the system at risk”, Georgiades said, noting that patients often undervalue medications because of minimal copayments, sometimes as low as one euro.
HIO Director Athos Tsinontides acknowledged the concerns, stating that the organisation regularly receives reports about returned unused medicines. “We may need to re-examine certain issues and take further action if necessary,” he said.
Pharmacists report a significant shift in prescription patterns since the introduction of the national health system (GHS).
“Pre-GHS, certain antibiotics were prescribed as single packages. Now, the same medication is commonly prescribed as two packages, despite no changes in package sizes”, Georgiades explained.
The system has begun implementing medication recycling bins in pharmacies, with full coverage expected by early 2026.
These bins allow citizens to dispose of unused medicines safely, whether expired or not, following European practices for proper pharmaceutical waste management.
Charalambos Papadopoulos, president of the Federation of Patient Associations of Cyprus (CyFPA/OSAK), emphasised that system waste affects all stakeholders.
“GHS funds belong to everyone. To ensure healthcare services and medicines are available when needed, we must all avoid wasteful practices”, he said.
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