Cyprus-Forum.com

[Robin Hood]

I have been resident in Cyprus for 25 years and have become resigned to the incompetence, inefficiency and apathy when dealing with any State organization ........ which seems par for the course here!

So, for once I have to recognise exactly the opposite when dealing with ‘[email protected]’ they are a ray of light in a bureaucratic desert. I was having problems trying to register into the new GHS scheme through GESY, so I e-mailed them and explained the problem:

• I received an automatic ‘RECEIVED’ receipt immediately.

• Within seconds I received a ‘READ’ receipt ...... something usually unheard of from government dept’s. and many private organisations too.

• Less than a minute later I received an e-mail giving me a reference number and advice that they would respond in due course.

• Five minutes later I had an e-mail giving me the information and guidance I needed.

• I later had another small glitch and e-mailed them again and received exactly the same efficient response.

The whole thing was settled in less than an hour. I raise my hat to whoever is running this service and to the efficiency and competence of those on the front-line. Their performance could not have been bettered anywhere.

Compare that with the MoH!

Last year my wife needed a special blood test which was only available in Athens or the US. It took the MoH over nine months, 20+ e-mails (with zero response) and countless phone calls (mostly unanswered) from me before I eventually got a telephone call to say they had approved the application. A bit late as, having got fed up with waiting, I rang the Athens clinic who directed me to a laboratory in Nicosia. They took the samples and sent them to Athens by DHL for analysis and we got the results about 2 weeks later by both e-mail and original by ACS. The cost ......... just Eu100!!!!

So hats off once again to ‘[email protected]’ and may it be a sign that at last things will change in Cyprus and we can expect civil servants to accept responsibility for doing the jobs they are paid so handsomely to do?

[Londonrake]

It’s done by a call centre in Mumbai.



Just joking (I think )

[Robin Hood]

It’s done by a call centre in Mumbai.

Just joking (I think )

It is a good system as among other things it will give everyone access to both private and government health facilities and practitioners. The only problem I have found is that Cypriot bureaucracy is organising it! It is already chaotic and nobody seems to have a full picture of how it works ..... even the doctors and medical staff.

It has been confusing from day one even to register! We needed an MEU3 ..... no we didn't as we had a valid MEU1! We needed and S1 ..... no we didn't as we already had a valid E121 medical card! We needed 10 years electricity bills ...... no we didn't as the bank statements showed they have always been 'Direct Debit. Everybody had their own idea what was needed, and what was needed varied according to which official you talked to.

The bozo that developed the software for registration made it far too complex. I may not be the brightest when it comes to APPs and computers but this one was a nightmare hence my having to seek help from GESY.

We now wait for confirmation our application has been accepted. I will be informed by e-mail my wife by post as they cannot send the different applicants details to the same e-mail address or the OTP to the same mobile. We had to buy her another mobile as the old one we kept 'just-in-case' did not have a text facility.

I expect chaos and confusion to reign for a long time yet!

[Londonrake]

We registered at the local hospital reception. Ridiculously quick and easy, despite all the horror stories.

Being a belt ‘n’ braces type (no, really! ) I emailed GESY a few weeks later, just to confirm. That, using the email address on my registration. “Please can you just confirm, blah, blah”. The answer? “No. It’s against our data privacy rules”.

[Robin Hood]

We registered at the local hospital reception. Ridiculously quick and easy, despite all the horror stories.

Being a belt ‘n’ braces type (no, really! ) I emailed GESY a few weeks later, just to confirm. That, using the email address on my registration. “Please can you just confirm, blah, blah”. The answer? “No. It’s against our data privacy rules”.

The Litmus test is ......... try and access your Beneficiary Account on the GESY web site from your PC using your user name and password.

We too were assured by the local clinic that we were registered but when we checked at the hospital we were not. When we eventually got all the details entered and sent the Beneficiary application we got an e-mail in return saying 'application accepted pending confirmation' We then printed out a copy of the details on a form accompanied by proof of residence and, as explained, that then had to be posted to Nicosia HIO office?

Only when you have been officially accepted can you register with your personal doctor.

I thought it was all OK and sorted, but as I said even the medical staff don't know what to do. Now ..... if you have a Cypriot ID Card it is a different ball game and much easier to enroll.

[Londonrake]

C actually phoned the GESY help line asking the same question I had on my registered email. They confirmed that we were indeed registered at the local hospital and even told us which doctor we were with. Obviously, a phone call from - somebody or other - didn't breach the same data privacy rules. Thus my comment about Mumbai.

[supporttheunderdog]

The wife and I got registered very quickly and efficiently. It was harder for the kids as for one (the other has a medical card) we had to send in evidence of relationship., such as birth certs, despite her having an MU3 but seemingly its the same for all dependent beneficiaries.

Now trying for a European Health Card (formerly E111).

[Robin Hood]

The wife and I got registered very quickly and efficiently. It was harder for the kids as for one (the other has a medical card) we had to send in evidence of relationship., such as birth certs, despite her having an MU3 but seemingly its the same for all dependent beneficiaries.

Now trying for a European Health Card (formerly E111).

One questions: Before you got registered did you create, on your PC or the Doctors PC, the Beneficiary Portal on the GESY website and get the 'provisional acceptance' by return when you submitted your request ?

I can access all my personal details but not medical details, until I receive the full acceptance e-mail from HIO after they receive by post, the hard copy of the Application Form with proof of residency. Every time you access your Portal they send you an OTP (one time password) to your GESY application registered mobile number, that is valid for just 5 minutes, only then does the Portal open. You are noted then as either an 'Entitled Beneficiary' or a 'Non Entitled Beneficiary'? Not quite sure of the significance of that?

[supporttheunderdog]

The wife and I got registered very quickly and efficiently. It was harder for the kids as for one (the other has a medical card) we had to send in evidence of relationship., such as birth certs, despite her having an MU3 but seemingly its the same for all dependent beneficiaries.

Now trying for a European Health Card (formerly E111).

One questions: Before you got registered did you create, on your PC or the Doctors PC, the Beneficiary Portal on the GESY website and get the 'provisional acceptance' by return when you submitted your request ?

I can access all my personal details but not medical details, until I receive the full acceptance e-mail from HIO after they receive by post, the hard copy of the Application Form with proof of residency. Every time you access your Portal they send you an OTP (one time password) to your GESY application registered mobile number, that is valid for just 5 minutes, only then does the Portal open. You are noted then as either an 'Entitled Beneficiary' or a 'Non Entitled Beneficiary'? Not quite sure of the significance of that?

The wife did it on a PC at home. All I know is that we are in the system and my wife has had doctors calls and prescriptions covered. Except for our daughter we did not have to send any documentary proof of anything but I am paying tax and SI showing I live and work here.

[CBBB]

I am paying tax and SI showing I live and work here.

Not enough, my three sons have been doing that for years, but because the lazy little b*ggers haven't bothered registering for MEU1, or MEU3, or obtaining Cypriot Citizenship (which they are all entitled to for multiple reasons), they could register their wives and children, but not themselves!