In 2001, Cyprus’s total per capita expenditure on health care (was Intl $941 (8.1% of GDP).⁵⁰ Among the six MECC countries of Middle East, this figure falls within a spending range of Intl $1839 in Israel (8.7 % of GDP) and Intl $153 in Egypt (3.9 % of GDP). There are no figures available for the Palestinian Authority. At 3.9 % the smallest spending as a percentage of GDP is in Egypt (Tables 7 and 8).

There is no primary medical care system or community nursing service in Cyprus. There are plans to develop policy and procedures for registered nurses in the community, and there is a new community nurse training in place. In the last year a pilot study has been set up in a small area of Nicosia, with 2 nurses working in the community. Jane Kakas at PASYKAF has been asked to jointly help write the policies and procedures with the School of Nursing in Nicosia.⁵¹

Tables 7 and 8 Total health expenditure (Intl $) per capita and as a percentage of GDP: Six MECC countries of the Middle East, 2003

Health care services are provided to all Cypriot residents via government funded hospitals in the Greek Cypriot south of the island. Medical cards entitling eligible residents to free or reduced payment services are issued from the Ministry of Health. Residents not eligible for a Medical Card pay for all treatments according to a scale of charges. Private, sector primary and hospital health care is available throughout the south. Turkish Cypriot patients with cancer can access free services provided by the NGOs, but these care services can only work in the south. Turkish Cypriots in the north have access to government health provision as on the Turkish mainland, but this does not currently include palliative care services.

The WHO overall health system performance score places Cyprus 24/191 countries. This composite measure of overall health system attainment⁵² is based on a country’s goals relating to health, responsiveness, and fairness in financing. The measure varies widely across countries and is highly correlated with general levels of human development as captured in the human development index.