Cyprus ranks second globally in healthcare availability satisfaction

Cyprus has achieved the second-highest global ranking for satisfaction with healthcare service availability, trailing only Switzerland. According to a survey conducted by IMR/University of Nicosia between September 8 and 14, 2026, the country recorded a satisfaction index of 75%, significantly outperforming the 64% average recorded across 19 countries analyzed by the OECD’s PaRIS study. The findings were presented by Christina Kokkalou at the 9th Cyprus Healthcare Conference.

Despite the high ranking, the nationwide study of 1,000 General Health System (GHS) beneficiaries reveals underlying challenges within the system. Approximately one in three respondents reported encountering difficulties when attempting to access necessary medical care. While Cyprus outperformed international benchmarks in availability and also secured a 66% score on the reliability index, these administrative and access hurdles remain a point of concern for a significant segment of the population.

The study utilized a representative sample of GHS users to provide a local analysis that could be measured against the international PaRIS benchmarks covering over 107,000 patients. The current data serves as a standalone assessment of the Cypriot health infrastructure, highlighting a dichotomy between high overall satisfaction levels and persistent practical obstacles for patients seeking timely treatment.