You may be surprised to see an article on cosmetic surgery in North Cyprus within our articles on tourism, but it does deserve a mention as ‘medical tourism’ does seem to be gaining in popularity with those seeking to either preserve or enhance their looks, or deal with a certain aspect of their body that is causing them to feel low.

Previously clients have travelled long-haul to the Far East or Eastern Europe for cosmetic procedures, but with North Cyprus only being a short journey away from most of Europe, it is becoming a more favourable option for many.

‘Medical tourists’ are not your average vacationers either, not opting for medical or cosmetic treatment just because it is available, but they are patients with significant health concerns for whom the cost of their healthcare is a primary concern.  The vacation aspect is normally a secondary one as it could be that affordability and quality of healthcare and cost savings make it more viable to travel abroad.

There are several private hospitals in North Cyprus that have cosmetic surgeons on their staff, and they will have been through years of studying, training and qualification either in Turkey or another country that has top institutions, universities and medical facilities such as Germany or America.  They also have to be registered and endorsed by the Ministry of Health Department in North Cyprus to be able to work and operate here.

If you do choose to research cosmetic surgery in North Cyprus you should feel pleasantly surprised that there are a range of options, surgeries and facilities that can accommodate you.  Private hospitals have a good reputation here for professionalism and excellent hygiene standards too, again this is becoming something that is a bone of contention in other parts of Europe these days.

There is one company that can help you in your search for attaining the best of what’s on offer here in North Cyprus and provide you with a complete service by organising your trip, surgery and after-care.

BFN Cosmetic Consultancy was set up by an English lady, Hellyn Fairbrother, after her experience of having cosmetic surgery which gave her a new lease and look on life.  She was so pleased with her results that she, in conjunction with her Turkish Cypriot partners, started the company to offer those seeking cosmetic surgery a route to make the process easier, less confusing, more personal and comfortable.

They can offer you a complete service, with only one surgeon contracted to work for them, the same surgeon who operated on Hellyn.  They provide a very personal service, discussing surgery options, booking flights, collecting clients from the airport on arrival, using top class hotels for their clients’ stay, giving 24 hour care, consultations, post operative checks and clients can also bring a partner or friend to make them feel more comfortable.  They make it a top priority to make clients feel confident about their surgery and ensure that the best medical facilities are used.

A range of procedures are catered for, and each is carefully detailed with what the results will and will not do for a client, avoiding any confusion and making the decision process a little easier.  All clients are given an individual service, price quotations are provided after a detailed discussion and analysis of the issue they would like to deal with, and if agreed upon then BFN will organise the rest.

If you are interesting in finding out more about cosmetic, aesthetic and plastic surgery here in North Cyprus then BFN can be contacted by email at: -

info@bfncosmetictourism.com, or in North Cyprus by telephone  +90 (0)392 815 0762.  You can also check their website for all available surgeries, details on the company and all relevant risks associated with cosmetic surgery: – http://www.bfncosmetictourism.com

For couples who are experiencing fertility problems and who are looking to pursue options for treatment, then North Cyprus is certainly a location that’s becoming a popular choice for many.  In part the relaxing pace of life and warm climate help couples feel more relaxed about treatment, then couple this with the growing number of experienced doctors who are internationally qualified and you have a good location for fertility treatment.

Costs are obviously a large factor for many couples in deciding where to seek fertility treatment options, and as North Cyprus still has relatively low living costs compared to many others, and with its location being a short journey from many parts of Europe, it is becoming more favourable than travelling to other international destinations requiring long haul flights.

Another reason can also be that patients must feel relaxed and at ease during treatment, and North Cyprus can be the prefect place to unwind and feel less stressed and anxious giving treatment a greater chance of success. Some sun, sea, sand and the chance to enjoy a vacation can be just what is required to enable clients to feel at their most comfortable at what can be a very stressful time.

Perhaps another bonus is that the laws and regulations governing sperm, egg and embryo donation here in North Cyprus are more relaxed, meaning less impediments for treatment.  This does not mean however that the practice is not strictly set to high ethical standards, governed and monitored with doctors trained and qualified on an international level in reproductive medicine and authorised by the Ministry of Health to practice here.

There are two major centres in North Cyprus and they are the North Cyprus IVF Centre located in Lefkoşa and the Cyprus IVF Centre in Famagusta.  Both have gained good reputations for their success rates for various kinds of fertility treatments, and both show professionalism and standards which have impressed on an international scale.  The organisations themselves have been established since 2001 and 2005 respectively, are affiliated with the German Hospital IVF Centre in Istanbul which itself has been running since 1996.

Various options for both male and female fertility issues are available, such as IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) with sperm donation – whereby eggs are removed and fertilised externally with donated sperm and returned to the uterus – or by ICIS which is administered by micro injection.  Other options are available for couples who have experienced continual miscarriages or concurrent unsuccessful IVF treatments, as well as embryo freezing and assisted egg hatching.

Of paramount importance is the diagnosis and identification of the most suitable fertility treatment option open to a client, the centres themselves have the most up to date fertility technologies and are fortunate enough to have some leading pioneers of fertility medicine on their staff, hopefully offering clients every conceivable chance of starting their own family.

If you are interested in finding out more about fertility options available in North Cyprus, then contact details for both organisations are as follows:

North Cyprus IVF Centre, Lefkoşa

Website : www.northcyprusivf.com

Email : info@northcyprusivf.net

Tel : +90 (0)392 227 9342 / +90 (0)392 229 1415

Cyprus IVF Centre, Famagusta

Website : www.cyprusivf.com

Email : ivfdmadine@yahoo.co.uk

Tel : +90 (0)392 366 32 17

Baby Cord is a concept that has been pioneered in the United States for over a decade – the procedure involves baby cord blood being used to treat a number of illnesses in children such as life threatening diseases and disorders.  This procedure is one which North Cyprus is involved with as well.

Baby cord blood is proving to be a vital medical resource in fighting devastating chronic and acute diseases, and is invaluable for research for many others.  A “haematopoietic” stem cell is the type of cell collected from umbilical cord blood which can multiply and develop into the major components of bone marrow, blood, and the immune system.  Other sources of such stem cell collection are bone marrow, which involves a much more invasive and painful procedure to obtain.

Over the last few years, the procedure has become a huge success as it requires only blood to be taken from the umbilical cord by needle after it has been separated from the baby after birth, meaning no risk to baby or an invasive procedure.  For many years the umbilical cord has been discarded, but stem cell research has found that it can be a life saving option for many people.

A wide range of diseases, disorders and life threatening illnesses can be treated successfully with baby cord blood including stem cell disorders, acute and chronic forms of leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, various types of anaemia, thalassemia (which is prevalent in Mediterranean countries), lymphomas and many more.  In addition to the host of conditions that can now be treated there are also trials into the possibilities of its use for conditions such as Osteoporosis and Sickle Cell Disorder.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are controversy-free and offer advantages over other types of stem cells.  While a baby’s own stem cells are a perfect match (100%) for family members, there is a good probability of a match for siblings, parents and or grandparents too.

Once cord blood has been collected and analysed, procedures are in place to inform donors of how many cells were preserved, and then this will be stored at state of the art cryogenic laboratories from where you can request them if required for later treatment of a condition that requires the use of stem cells.

Baby Cord Cyprus, based in Lefkoşa, has been running since 2002 and has affiliations with Baby Cord Turkey and also adheres to the New England Cord Blood Bank, Inc.. NECBB is the world’s premier cord blood bank with experience in cryogenics since 1982 and cord blood banking for the past decade.

If you would like to find out more about Baby Cord and Blood Banking please visit the following websites for more detailed information – unfortunately at present the Baby Cord Cyprus website is only in Turkish, but we are assured that on contact, English is also spoken.

Baby Cord Cyprus

Website : www.babycordcyprus.com

Tel : +90 (0)392 228 4855

Information can also be found via the following websites:

New England Cord Blood Bank : www.cordbloodbank.com

UK Cord Blood Bank : www.cordbloodbank.co.uk

When considering a move to another country there are many things to think about apart from the initial thoughts of ‘am I doing the right thing?’ 

Depending on your reasons for moving to North Cyprus, whether it is to move your whole family for a new start, retiring to enjoy your time in a Mediterranean climate, or whether you wish to find work, we will attempt to offer some tips and advice.  Also note that our Property section will give you insight into finding a home on the island.

Firstly, if you come from an EU country and therefore have an EU passport you’re free to enter the country.  When you enter you’ll receive an entry stamp in your passport and this allows you to remain in the country for 3 months from that date.  Within those 3 months you should begin official registration proceedings to allow the government of North Cyprus to know who you are, that you’re here and to allow you to become a legal resident of Northern Cyprus!  N.B., when you do enter Northern Cyprus as an intended resident, ensure you inform the immigration officer inspecting your passport at the airport or the border crossing of the fact so that you do get a 3 month stamp and not a 1 month tourism stamp!  Our other articles will attempt to take you through the whole process of relocation and residency itself – as best we can, considering that the rules do change every now and again!

If you’re moving to Northern Cyprus lock, stock and barrel and need to relocate your household contents then you will need to consider which company to use to ship your worldly goods.  Most offer a door to door or a door to dock service, with most people seeming to prefer the first option for the obvious reason of it being less stressful!  However, there are still processes that require your time and effort such as customs paperwork and liaising with the shipping company.  There is now quite a choice of companies which deal specifically with shipping to North Cyprus, and in other articles we will give you more information on some of them and a more in-depth look at the process.

The cost of living here will always be an important factor in your thoughts, and this will obviously vary depending on your lifestyle of course!  If you prefer to buy imported, named goods then you will be paying a premium because North Cyprus has to pay high import costs.  If on the other hand you shop locally, buying your main essentials at the market, dine out at the non 5 star eateries, then you can make a small income go a long way here without having to budget or restrict your lifestyle to a huge extent.

Considerations about healthcare and/or medical insurance should also be a part of the relocation process, with research done into the local state healthcare system and private facilities.  You will be pleased to know that private healthcare is quite affordable in North Cyprus, offering state of the art hospitals and clinics, but you can also purchase medical insurance policies through a number of companies here too, should you feel the need.  Please check our articles on the various levels of state, private and alternative healthcare options available to you.

For families who are relocating with small children or teenagers who still require education of some kind, then again, with the influx of foreigners coming to live in North Cyprus, the demand for educational facilities has been met quite sufficiently to enable you to feel confident about getting a good standard of education for your family.  More in-depth articles are available in our Education section which detail each level of education available here in North Cyprus.

If you are thinking of relocating to North Cyprus to work or set up your own company, then this is definitely something that you need to look into before you arrive!  There are lots of rules and regulations in relation to foreigners setting up their own companies or being employed by a local company, and this is often a minefield unless you have done your research thoroughly.  Foreigners wishing to set up companies here are bound by having to have a Turkish Cypriot majority shareholding partner, and the legalities and expense of the initial set up are lengthy and will require legal and accountancy assistance.

If you are looking to buy a property then again research is vital given the current situation with the legalities of title deeds and the purchase process.  You should feel entirely comfortable with your decisions as long as you have taken time to understand and research and spoken to others who have experienced the process.  For more information on property in North Cyprus please visit our additional site that will enable you to gain a good insight and give you some initial research fodder!

And finally, you should come and visit the island first for more than a normal two week holiday to make sure your decision to relocate here is the right one!  It’s a simple process to find a rental property for a few months to suit a budget, and this gives you valuable time in deciding on a particular town or area that you feel is right for you.  You would be surprised at the amount of people who have come for a holiday and then upped sticks and arrived without doing any further research and who have no idea that it gets cold and rains here in the winter!

Whatever your reason for moving to North Cyprus you will without doubt make a lot of new friends on the island and these will be the best people to assist you with the whole relocation process and make it go as smoothly as possible for you.

North Cyprus has a wonderful reputation for its ability to form effective and extremely helpful organisations to benefit the local and expat population. 

Their duties and services vary, but all have the same aim, and that is to provide professional, financial, medical, and psychological support through their network of helpers and volunteers.

All these organisations have now been running for some years, and can provide cancer suffers with help managing the formalities of hospital treatment and care, as well raising funds through their charity shops and activities to help purchase much needed equipment for local hospital oncology wards.

The residents and businesses of North Cyprus are also very generous when it comes to helping to raise these funds, by waiving business fees and giving free use of their premises, attending gala dinners, bazaars and coffee mornings as well as providing items to sell at charity shops, with some doing much appreciated volunteer work in their spare time as well.

Below you can find details of organisations that operate within the TRNC, but also those that hold events in North Cyprus for the benefit of a wider audience:

North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust

Kyrenia – Tel : +90 (0)533 865 0992

Holds monthly coffee morning, bingo evenings, charity dinners and runs a charity shop at the following location:

Kyrenia – behind the post office in Kyrenia – open most Saturdays apart from summer months.

Tulips – Help Those With Cancer Association

Tulips has helped thousands of cancer suffers, not just through its fund raising activities but also by providing psychological assistance, specialist equipments and grants for overseas care if necessary, and even more importantly were instrumental in the setting up of the oncology ward at Lefkoşa state hospital. They hold regular fund raising events such as horse racing nights, fayres and other activities such as football tournaments and has charity shops in the following locations:

Lefkoşa – Necati Hasan Binaları No 16, Ali Riza Efendi Cad., Ortaköy – Tel : +90 (0)392 228 9807 / +90 (0)392 228 3209

Lefkoşa – Lefkoşa Muhtar Yusuf Galeria Dukkan No 118, Kat 1 Atatürk Cad., Küçük Kaymaklı – Tel : +90 (0)533 861 9990

Kyrenia – Asdemir Çarşı No 15, Asdemir – Tel : +90 (0)542 854 0868

Famagusta – Cengizhan Yolu 20 Temmuz Dukkanları Umut Yolu – Tel : +90 (0)542 850 2903

Pro-Cancer Research Fund

This organisation grew from interest expressed by Cypriot’s based in the UK after research conducted and published in the Sunday Times newspaper.  Now it has a full time walk-in centre in Palmers Green.  This organisation now holds a yearly ‘orchid walk’ in North Cyprus in February to raise funds for much needed cancer research, and they are aided by North Cyprus residents and walk experts, Maureen and Tony Hutchinson.  You can check out their website for information on the organisation and details for the yearly walks at www.theorchidwalk.com.

There is a long way to go in North Cyprus with regard to introducing alternative therapies and medicine into the mainstream, but there are signs that a change is in the air, mostly from the European community, who perhaps have realised that there is a need for alternatives to drugs and placebos.

You can find a lot of alternative therapists on the great little Buzz Book website, www.thebuzzbook.com, and listed under ‘medical.’  You may be pleasantly surprised at the different types of practices available to treat a variety of ailments and illnesses.  In this article we will detail as many as possible, giving you information on the people to contact and their speciality!  Please be advised though that we are not aware of their individual qualifications, so make sure that you ask in advance of any treatment.

Physiotherapists

If you have ever suffered from muscle problems, require treatment after an operation or suffer from joint pain then help is at hand here in North Cyprus.  Physiotherapy takes into account previous medical history, lifestyle and a practitioner will look at the whole person before making a diagnosis and offering subsequent treatment.   There are four physiotherapists currently listed and they are Veronika on Tel : +90 (0)533 8655225, Sibel Karaca on Tel : +90 (0)392 815 3971, Aqua-Solaria Health Centre on Tel : +90 (0)392 8152459, all being based in Kyrenia – and Ozdemir Gunay Orhan on Tel : +90 (0)392 8218863 based in Lapta.

Reiki

A form of natural healing used to treatment many ailments, reiki means ‘universal’ or ‘spiritually guided life force’ and it is a treatment that addresses the whole person, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, with the aim of regaining harmony and wholeness within the body and self.  Treatment is given by the practitioner placing her/his hands gently on or over your body – it is a non-intrusive treatment and a practitioner covers both the front and back of the body.  For more information on what Reiki treatments can do for you contact Jean Lindsay, Tel : +90 (0)533 8469658, Layle Stephen-Anderson on Tel : +90 (0)392 8212339 or Carolyn Watson on Tel : +90 (0)533 8491472.

Reflexology

Reflexology (zone therapy) is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.  Contact either Jean Lindsay, Tel : +90 (0)533 8469658 or Layle Stephen-Anderson to find out more on Tel : +90 (0)392 8212339.

Pranic Healing

Pranic Healingis a simple yet powerful and effective system of no-touch energy healing.  It’s based on the fundamental principle that the body is a self-repairing living entity that possesses the innate ability to heal itself.  Pranic Healingworks on the principle that the healing process is accelerated by increasing the life force or vital energy on the affected part of the physical body.  If you are interested in knowing more about this natural healing practice contact Alan Horne on Tel : +90 (0)533 8467469.

Homeopathy

This therapy is based on the theory of treating ’like with like.’  Homeopathic remedies are diluted natural substances that if given to a healthy person, would produce the symptoms the medicine is prescribed for.  Factors of a patient’s physical, emotional and lifestyle situation are all taken into account when treating a particular problem in order to prescribe the right medicine.  We were very happy to find recently that there was a homeopath in North Cyprus, although she only spends part of the year here.  On talking with her she currently has a room at the Lefke University.  Her name is Amanda and you can contact her on Tel : +90 (0)533 8380828.  If you don’t mind travelling to the south of the island then Amanda Saurin LLB (Hons) SDSHom MARH of Wellgreen Homeopathy runs her own practice at the Kara Mind and Body Centre in Nicosia.  You can contact her on +357 966 17573 (south) or +90 (0)533 838 0828 (north).

Holistic Healing

This particular practice is not specifically a treatment but rather an approach to how it should be applied.  It’s about maintaining aspects of emotional and spiritual wellbeing within a person and focuses on the causes of ailments rather than the symptoms themselves.  For more information please call Jean Lindsay, Tel : +90 (0)533 8469658.

Cranial Sacral Therapy

Sounds strange doesn’t it, but it comes very highly recommended by one of our team who tried it after a nasty fall left her in a lot of pain in her hip.  It works on the principle of how we each handle our emotions and how this profoundly affects our physical health, referred to as Somato Emotional Release, and this is a natural development of craniosacral therapy.  It’s currently helping to resolve many difficult to treat problems in patients around the world.  For information how this treatment may be able to help you contact Layle Stephen-Anderson on Tel : +90 (0)392 8212339.

Well we hope that this has given you the opportunity to discover alternative forms of treatment and therapy available to you in North Cyprus.  To plug the Buzz Book again you can visit them at www.thebuzzbook.com for all sorts of contacts from A to Z!  Please also visit any of the tags below for other healthcare articles.

North Cyprus operates a fairly modern state run healthcare system, albeit still a little behind the times in places. 

First things first, and that is North Cyprus is at present not a member of the EU, and therefore the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will not be valid at any medical facility here, whether state or private.

North Cyprus has 4 general hospitals in Kyrenia, Lefkoşa, Güzelyurt and Famagusta – they are all well-equipped hospitals with modern facilities and equipment, as well as accident and emergency departments.  The service and care the hospitals offer is at times a welcome break from the slow and sometimes mediocre healthcare systems in the rest of Europe, and the hospitals on the island are more than capable of dealing with any number of illnesses and emergency situations.  You will often find that people’s experiences of treatment are positive and that they are full of praise for the hospital staff’s speed and professionalism.

If you require emergency treatment in North Cyprus then you will never be refused at a state hospital, often with no cost to yourself.  However, this is not an ideal situation for an already under funded healthcare system, but nevertheless this is the way the system works at present.

If you do require a hospital stay however, then you will be charged by the hospital and rates are calculated on a daily basis.  It is also worth noting that a patient is basically reliant on visitors and family and/or appointed carers to provide them with general care, such as cleaning and replenishment of clothing as this is not provided by the state hospital system in Northern Cyprus. Nowadays a private company is sub-contracted to perform all non-medical tasks such as cleaning, washing of hospital bedding and also security.

If you are working in North Cyprus and have a valid work permit, you will be paying into the state system by way of social security and pension contributions, thus entitling you to free healthcare by the state.  You will be provided with a medical card, requiring re-certifying every 6 months at your local social security office, and this will entitle you to completely free medical care at all state run hospitals.  It is also worth noting that a medical card can be used at high street pharmacies to obtain lower prices for certain prescription medicines.

State hospitals also provide services such as blood donation, although the system of supplying and obtaining blood is a sometimes stressful situation.  Each state run hospital keeps a supply of blood readily available for emergency purposes; however there is a larger blood bank which holds the main supply at the Lefkoşa hospital.  If blood is required for a scheduled operation or for long term treatment then you are required to return the blood via donations from yourself and perhaps your friends and family to balance the amount you took.  It is therefore very obvious that hospitals require a constant source of donated blood and rely heavily on donations.

Lefkoşa hospital is also an important centre for Thalassemia sufferers – this is a genetic blood disease prevalent in the Mediterranean – who need to attend for regular blood transfusions.

All in all the state run hospital system is adequate, pretty modern, but at the same time it needs further investment to be able to cope with the natural increase in population.  Some would still say that it is more than equivalent to current European standards, and from our own experiences we would tend to agree.

Useful contact numbers are: –

Ambulance – 112
Kyrenia Hospital – +90 392 815 2266
Lefkoşa Hospital – +90 392 228 5441
Famagusta Hospital – +90 392 366 2876
Güzelyurt Hospital – +90 392 714 2125
Health Care Advice from 8am to 11pm – +90 (0)392 815 4929 or +90 (0)542 886 2955

The private healthcare sector in North Cyprus is one which you should feel comfortable about if you are considering relocating to live here

Expatriates who reside in North Cyprus can of course take out their own health insurance, and this may be advisable.  Health insurance is available through many of the insurance companies and agents operating in North Cyprus which can offer a range of policies to suit your requirements, usually through the larger health insurance companies in Turkey.  It is also possible to obtain health insurance direct via large international companies such as BUPA for example.

Expatriates should take the time to weigh up the cost of health insurance versus one off payments for any medical issues which may require treatment and/or hospital stays.  Prices for treatments at private clinics in North Cyprus are still affordable for most, and are certainly cheaper than those in the UK and the majority of Europe.  However, the NHS in the UK for example is still an option for the first 12 months after you move to TRNC, and for those who keep a residential address in Britain, but waiting times may be prohibitive, and therefore treatment in North Cyprus perhaps becomes a more sensible option.

Private clinics are usually located in the major cities and towns, with Lefkoşa, Famagusta and Kyrenia being home to the majority of private clinics and hospitals.

There are plenty of them too, and with many specialists in various fields of healthcare, it’s an impressive sector.  The island is also gaining a good reputation abroad for such specialist areas as fertility treatment, eye laser surgery and cosmetic surgery as well as dentistry.

Sometimes facilities at private hospitals and clinics are also used by private practioners.  For example, you may find yourself visiting an independent eye clinic, and if further treatment is required – for instance laser surgery – you may attend one of the private hospitals which your eye doctor rents for his surgery requirements.  This saves him the cost of importing all the necessary equipment which the private hospital may already have, and all he needs to do is pay them a fee for its usage.

Some private hospitals are able to offer expatriates a membership system, whereby you have the option of choosing from certain levels of yearly membership, which then entitles patients to a reduced rate on treatments and surgeries.  One such hospital is the Cyprus Life Hospital in Lefkoşa which runs a membership scheme through the British Residents Society.  If you’re a member of the BRS the you’re entitled to join the hospital’s scheme.

Another hospital offering a similar independent membership scheme, with the added bonus of regular free check ups, is the Kyrenia Medical Centre at the Kamiloğlu Hospital in Kyrenia.  Prices too are really quite impressive at the time of writing, beginning at around £100 for an annual membership.  Affordable even if you are fortunate enough not to require medical treatment throughout the whole year!

There are plenty of other hospitals offering the same service around the island, so it’s worth looking around the area you have relocated to, to see what options are open to you.  Of great benefit, most offer a 24 hour emergency service for members, and have a private ambulance to transfer patients should it be required at any time of day or night.

You should also be impressed with the facilities and modern technology used in North Cyprus, as despite the embargoes placed upon it, it seems to do very well in obtaining state of the art equipment and all the mod cons for healthcare!  Private hospitals and clinics all have very comfortable rooms, most having shower rooms, TV and even mini bars (non-alcoholic of course!), and they all have plenty of room for visiting relatives and friends.  Rooms are also kept extremely well cleaned by a seemingly endless stream of hospital operatives.

All of the hospitals and clinics we have come across are able to deal with a long list of medical areas and ailments, in fact too many to mention all of them here!  However, you will find most that deal with surgical situations have radiology departments, intensive care units and outpatient clinics, but can also deal with other areas such as dermatology, dietary and physiotherapy for example.  All in all it is very comforting to know and considering that most of the surgeons and doctors within private practices have trained in Turkey and Europe you should be totally at ease with the quality and standards of care in North Cyprus.

There are lots of other healthcare options available too, with alternative medicine starting to make inroads on the island, and the ease with which you can buy prescription medication over the counter at pharmacies, making the choices for healthcare more appealing and certainly less concerning for people looking at relocating to North Cyprus.

North Cyprus has a completely modern healthcare system and the medical profession operates at the highest standards, which can be a pleasant relief for visitors and new expats if they find they require medical assistance when in Northern Cyprus.

North Cyprus is also home to a wide variety of specialist areas such as eye surgery, fertility treatment and cosmetic surgery.  There are also care homes and a wide choice of well-equipped dentist surgeries and opticians.  Furthermore, the cost of receiving medical treatment in Northern Cyprus is far from exorbitant.

With general hospitals located in cities and major towns, and with a fleet of emergency service vehicles and the Civil Defence division at hand, North Cyprus is also set to cope with major emergency events such as earthquakes or large scale forest fires for example.

The main population centres of Gazi Magusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou) and Lefkoşa (Nicosia) all have private and state run hospitals, and where these are located are also where you will find the majority of doctors, dentists, opticians and even alternative healthcare practitioners such as reflexologists, aromatherapists and reiki practitioners for example.

Health insurance is not compulsory in Northern Cyprus at the moment, although the government has been discussing plans to implement a compulsory scheme, the proceeds from which would go to improving the medical facilities across the island.

Emergency Treatment

When visiting North Cyprus you will never be refused emergency care whether you have the financial means to pay for it or not.  However, you should always make sure that any potential costs for major health and emergency needs are covered within your travel insurance policy, and what’s more, you should have repatriation cover too as you may require transportation to your home nation if North Cyprus is unable to provide necessary specialist treatment to care for you if you fall ill.

In an emergency the number to call for an ambulance in North Cyprus is 112, alternatively make your way to the nearest hospital or health care clinic for immediate treatment.  Trained staff are on hand at Accident and Emergency departments to deal with initial assessments and onward treatment, depending on the severity of a condition.  Transfer to other specialist facilities may be required should they be unable to deal with any situation at the medical facility you initially attend.

Useful contact numbers are: –

Ambulance – 112
Kyrenia Hospital – +90 392 815 2266
Nicosia Hospital – +90 392 228 5441
Famagusta Hospital – +90 392 366 2876
Guzelyurt Hospital – +90 392 714 2125
Health Care Advice from 8am to 11pm – +90 815 4929 or +90 542 886 2955

Pharmacies

There are plenty of pharmacies all over North Cyprus, and you should look out for them as they are often identified by a sign with a green cross on it – pharmacies are known as ‘Eczane’ in Turkish.  They can be found in most high streets of almost every city, town and village, so you should not have to travel far in an emergency.

Pharmacies are all open during the day, but at night times only one or two will be open on a rotational basis in the cities and towns until 11pm, so its worth asking if you require ongoing treatment to see which ones will be open where you are staying.  You can either ask at the pharmacy during daytime hours, or the English language newspaper Cyprus Today publishes the duty rota each week.  Of course, if it’s an emergency you can go straight to the Accident and Emergency departments at all general hospitals.

Pharmacies in North Cyprus are well known for selling almost every single prescription drug you can think of (and then some) over the counter!  Normal practice is to explain your ailment (generally all pharmacists speak good English), and they will prescribe the appropriate medicine.  They really do act as doctors and it may come as a surprise to those of us who are used to having to book an appointment to see our family doctor to achieve the same end!  The cost of medicine is again far cheaper than you pay in the UK or Germany for example.