Cyprus

Country profile

The Republic of Cyprus with a population of over 800,000 inhabitants is the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean and is situated south of Turkey. The island’s main economic activities include tourism, financial services and merchant shipping.

A former British colony it gained independence in 1960 and since then has developed an advanced high income economy with per capita GDP being just above the average for the European Union. In 2002 health care in Cyprus accounted for 5.8% of GDP of which 51% came from private resources compared with an average of just 25% in the rest of the EU. Health indicators reveal that in 2006 life expectancy for males was 79 and for females 82 years, comparing favourably to most developed nations.

In 2004 Cyprus became a member of the EU, and in January 2008 joined the Euro.

Policy responses

In general, tackling health inequalities is an issue addressed by the Cypriot government on a cross-sectoral basis with policies taking into account the need to focus on the most socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. The Ministry of Health within Cyprus places great importance on the need to address inequalities in health and looks to provide a variety of services and interventions which are accessible to

An overview of policy responses addressing health inequalities in can be found in our Policy Database.

Good practices

Key actors

Please find below an overview of key actors in Cyprus working on health inequality issues:

• Ministry of Health

• Research Unit in Behaviour and Social Issues (RUBSI) The Unit’s mission is to improve the understanding of the processes and mechanisms which influence the health and well-being of the Cypriot population. It aims to contribute to the body of knowledge that informs the development of health policy, education and practice in health interventions.

• The Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society

• The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies. The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies is a non-profit organisation which promotes and contributes to projects of social, political, and economic themes relating to gender with an emphasis on the Mediterranean region.
   

Are you aware of any other key actors that should be added to this list? 
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Key resources

Please find below an overview of relevant documents addressing health inequality issues in Cyprus. Further publications can be found in our Publications Database.

• Survey on immigrants and health: Inequalities and barriers of access and utilization of healthcare services. Survey by the Open University of Cyprus.
   

Are you aware of any other key resources that should be added to this list?
Please let us know!