Cyprus access to medicines remains below the European Union average, according to the latest W.A.I.T. (Waiting to Access Innovative Therapies) Indicator by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).
The findings show that only 66 of the 168 innovative medicines approved in Europe between 2021 and 2024 are currently available in Cyprus.
Below EU average availability
The report, published on 19 May 2026, places Cyprus 21st among 36 European Union and European Economic Area countries in terms of access to new treatments.
Overall, medicines access covers 39% of newly approved therapies, compared with the European average of 45%, which corresponds to 76 medicines.
Germany leads the ranking with access to 156 of the 168 approved innovative medicines.
Long waiting times for patients
The average time required for patients in Cyprus to gain access to new medicines stands at 528 days, from European approval to market availability.
This compares with an EU average of 597 days, while Germany records the fastest access time at 158 days and Romania the slowest at 1,110 days.
The medicines access gap therefore reflects both delays in approval procedures and limited availability of new treatments.
Restrictions on treatment access
According to the data, only 2% of innovative medicines available in Cyprus are provided without restrictions.
For 92% of treatments, special procedures or access limitations apply, highlighting further barriers for patients seeking timely care.
In contrast, Germany reports full unrestricted access to 100% of available innovative medicines.
Industry calls for faster procedures
The report attributes delays to regulatory timelines, documentation requirements and budget constraints across member states.
The pharmaceutical industry argues that closer cooperation between stakeholders could help improve access to new therapies.
For Cyprus specifically, the report recommends allowing early patient access immediately after EU approval, while national assessment and reimbursement processes continue within an agreed 180-day timeframe.
Industry response and policy proposals
The Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA) said that while availability has improved, significant delays remain in evaluation and reimbursement processes.
KEFEA President Kyriakos Mikellis said that assessment of new medicines can still take two to three years in Cyprus.
He added that proposals include earlier integration of therapies into the system, use of international guidelines, and parallel reimbursement discussions to speed up medicines access in Cyprus.
Mikellis also called for improved processes, adherence to timelines and increased investment in pharmaceuticals by the Health Insurance Organisation and the Ministry of Health.
He stressed that although innovative medicines may carry higher upfront costs, their long-term benefits for patients and the healthcare system are significant.
Source: CNA
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