Health and safety:
Emergency information
In case of emergency, immediate response is given by the following telephone numbers, where English is spoken:
Ambulance:199,112
FireService:199,112
Police: 199, 112
Night Pharmacies: 192
Pafos 1406
Hospitals:
- Lefkosia General Hospital: +357 22 80 14 00, 22 80 14 75 (Accidents & Emergency)
- Lemesos General Hospital: +357 25 80 11 00, 25 30 57 70
- Larnaka General Hospital: +357 24 80 05 00, 24 80 03 69
- Pafos General Hospital: +357 26 80 32 60, 26 30 61 00
- Paralimni Hospital: +357 23 82 12 11
- Polis Hospital: +357 26 32 14 31
- Kyperounta Hospital: +357 25 53 20 21
Government General Hospitals and Private clinics/hospitals are mostly concentrated in urban areas, while health centres, subentries, and dispensaries function in the rural areas, providing a network to meet the medical needs of the whole population.
All Government General Hospitals as well as some private clinics have Accident and Emergency Departments for emergency cases. (See also title "Emergencies").
Medical treatment and assistance is offered free of charge to international tourists in case of health emergencies at the Accident and Emergency Department of Government Hospitals/Institutions. Out-patient and in-patient treatment is provided against payment of the prescribed fees. Holiday-makers can also make use of their health insurance, which covers medical expenses, provided that this insurance covers the length of their stay on the island.
Almost all brands of manufactured medicines are available in Cyprus. Local newspapers list pharmacies which are open during the night and on weekends/holidays, as well as the names of doctors who are on call on weekends/holidays.
Information on private doctors on call on weekends / holidays is given by the following telephone numbers:
Pafos - 1436
The majority of doctors are English speaking.
Private doctors' visiting hours (on weekdays) : 09:00-13:00 hrs and16:00-19:00 hrs.
Cyprus is also free from dangerous infectious diseases. No vaccination requirements for any international Traveller.
Climatic conditions in Cyprus can be termed as excellent from a health point of view. Therefore, the climate is ideal for holiday travelers throughout the year.
Chemists Opening Hours
Chemists stay open during shopping hours. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of chemists which stay open until late at night, on Public Holidays and on Sundays are listed in the daily papers. They can also be traced through the following automatic telephones: Lefkosia: 1412, Lemesos: 1415, Larnaka 1414, Pafos: 1416, Ammochostos: 1413.
Health Food Stores with a wide range of high quality health food and health-care products and cosmetics are to be found in almost all towns. Furthermore various health food items and health-care products are found in Pharmacies and also in large supermarkets, all over the island.
Food safety and drinking water quality
In Cyprus the safety of food and drinking water quality is monitored by the Health Inspectors of the Medical and Public Services of the Ministry of Health and the Local Authorities. Food and drinking water are of high quality, absolutely safe and no food or water-bore diseases occur.
Water is safe to drink in Cyprus, as water pollution is negligible and every home has fresh running drinking-water. All the District Water Boards are in constant collaboration with the Government Health Services and the General Laboratory for the prevention of any toxicological and bacteriological infection of water in Cyprus. Tap-water in hotels, restaurants, public premises, etc., is safe to drink.
Safety in Cyprus
Crime in Cyprus is, comparatively, at a very low level. The Police are always ready to assist anyone who needs help. In case of emergency, one may telephone 199 or 112 (in all towns). All policemen speak good English.
Travelling with pets:
The import of pets is only permitted through Larnaca (LCA) and Paphos (PFO). Owners of pets being imported from outside the European Union must communicate the arrival to the District Veterinary Office of the port of entry, providing the complete details including date, time and flight no. at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
Cats, dogs and ferrets must be individually identified by a clearly readable tattoo, provided applied before 2 July 2011 or compliant transponder or microchip. They must also be older than 111 days, in order to be vaccinated against rabies. Import is restricted to a max. of 5 pets per passenger. The import of cats, dogs and ferrets are subject to Regulation (EC) No. 998/2003.
Prohibited breeds of dog: American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino or Argentinian Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian Mastiff, Japanese Tosa or Tosa Inu.
Birds are subject to Decision (EC) No. 25/2007. Birds must be accompanied by a zoo sanitary certificate completed by a veterinary officer of the government of the exporting country and a certificate signed by the captain of the delivering carrier stating that the birds arrived directly from the exporting country (transhipment not allowed) and that the birds have not been in contact with other animals or poultry during transportation. Prohibited: Psittacine birds (parrots).
The District Veterinary Office can be contacted in Larnaca at (tel:) +357-24821275/6, (fax:) +357-24304270, (email:) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and in Paphos at (tel:) +357-26821260, (fax:) +357-26306198, (e-mail:) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..