Cyprus is already well-known to many Britons as a friendly holiday destination. But it is also an excellent destination for those seeking quality health-care on a reasonable budget. Andrew Baker reports.
"Cyprus boasts an exceptional, well-equipped and technologically sophisticated medical infrastructure, as well as highly qualified specialist consultants, doctors, nurses and technical staff"
Few people relish the idea of medical intervention. But there are ways to improve the all-round experience, ways, if you like, to sweeten the pill. Reducing the cost of a treatment without compromising on quality is a sure-fire way of improving the patient's outlook; so is adding a gentle climate, charming scenery, good quality accommodation and friendly, English-speaking doctors and nurses.
Add to the menu fresh fish, cooked the Mediterranean way; fresh fruit, straight from the tree.
Reasons enough to visit Cyprus, which for decades has been the holiday location choice for millions of Britons. But the development of the island's health sector means that there is now a more compelling reason to visit: for reasonably priced health care.
Minister of works and social security, Dr Antonis Vassiliou, has noted that clinic beds in Cyprus are five times cheaper than in the United Kingdom. Patients from this country can expect to save as much as 50 per cent on cosmetic surgery procedures, for example.
"Cyprus is a perfect candidate for UK patients seeking medical care abroad," said Athena Theodorou of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO). "Cyprus boasts an exceptional, well-equipped and technologically sophisticated medical infrastructure, as well as highly qualified specialist consultants, doctors, nurses and technical staff."
There are no medical schools in Cyprus, which means that the nation's doctors have trained in the UK, Europe and the United States, and often practice in these countries for several years before returning home to work.
The private health sector in Cyprus is becoming increasingly active in attracting patients from abroad. The main source markets are the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Greece and the Middle East. But with so many Cypriots speaking excellent English, the UK is the most obvious market of all.
The CTO is working hard to raise awareness of the health-care opportunities that the island offers. Part of the attraction is that patients often bring family members with them for emotional support, and to boost the "holiday" feeling.
"This is a rapidly growing sector of the international tourism market, and the CTO views medical tourism as playing an increasingly major role for the island's future," according to Athena Theodorou. "We are dedicated to doing everything that we can to promote the medical facilities available on the island, and we are pleased that Cyprus is getting the recognition it deserves."
One of the areas in which Cyprus specialises is dental care, which is of particular appeal to British patients because of the increasing difficulty in finding an NHS dentist at home.
Leading the way for British dental patients in Cyprus is the Nicosia Dental Clinic, who already have links with a London-based clinic and are working to establish links with clinics in other UK cities.
Nervous patients can relax before their procedures with a choice of 150 movies shown on plasma-screen TVs, and if that is not sufficient they can always order up a Thai massage from the clinic's own professional Thai Masseur. As you would expect, all of the clinic's sterilising machines, X-ray machines, intra-oral cameras and lasers are up to the highest international standards.
The clinic's leading surgeon studied in Germany and Sweden, and spent six months lecturing at Loma Linda University in California. He has been with the Nicosia Clinic for twelve years. "Over the last year," the clinic's spokesman commented, "we have seen an increase in patient numbers, and patients tend to know their dental needs better than anyone else."
The Nicosia Dental Clinic are looking at ways to further promote their work in the UK and the USA, and their aspirations are shared by the CTO and the island's government.
The tourism body is working with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, as well as the Planning Bureau of Cyprus to formulate policies for the development and promotion of health tourism in Cyprus.
An important element in the campaign to raise overseas awareness of the medical capabilities of Cyprus is a presence at major health tourism events. This was achieved in spectacular style when Cyprus hosted the second World Health Tourism Congress in March this year.
With the price of private medical treatment in the UK and the USA so prohibitively high, a number of overseas nations with impressive medical infrastructure are competing for an increasingly large number of patients.
The CTO has a new slogan to emphasise the health tourism sector, one which has previously been heard, paradoxically enough, in countless bars across the island: it is "Stin Igia Stas", which translates as "To Your Health". The CTO's new campaign also emphasises wellness, but the slogan is simpler still: "Love Cyprus".
Case study: Picture Perfect Medical Co-ordinators
Isobel Brookfield writes:
"For the last few years I have suffered from peridontitus and unfortunately I knew this would mean that eventually I would need either dentures or implants. I didn't want dentures! So this time last year (December 2006) I decided to research all my options.
Such options took me on a journey visiting a local private English dentist, then to visit a dentist in Poland, and a then dentist in mainland Spain. To say I was confused about the treatment suggested would be an understatement. Not to mention the difference in prices. I was completely overwhelmed by it all.
I do remember though, reading an article some time ago (last year) in the Sunday Telegraph about a dental surgery in Cyprus and so I decided to look into this.
There followed some email correspondence between myself and Dr Marios Taramides from this practice. I was very impressed with their initial service and decided that I would visit Cyprus for at least for a consultation. However I was traveling alone and although Cyprus is a lovely country I was pretty daunted at the prospect of arranging appointments, travel and accommodation for myself.
So I contacted Picture Perfect, the Cyprus-based medical co-ordinators, to help me with all my arrangements.
They were fantastic, right from the initial contact, keeping me well and truly in the picture before my journey, then collecting me at the airport, giving me a mobile phone, arranging and transporting me to all my appointments. It was a first class service. I was well and truly looked after and nothing was too much trouble. It was like being on holiday with friends.
My treatment took three visits to Cyprus (eight days, two days and ten days) and each time Joanna from Picture Perfect arranged everything for me. The treatment the medical coordinators provided for me was very professional and a first class service.
The dental visits were the most pleasurable I have ever had, and Dr Marios was the most gentle, reassuring person I have ever met. I would not hesitate to recommend either Picture Perfect or the Nicosia dental practice to anyone contemplating dental work. I know I made the right choice and the time researching this was well spent. The whole process was relaxed and I had a fantastic as well. I have not stopped smiling since!
