Whether its for routine check-ups, maternity appointments, physical examinations or consultations, the Medical and Dental Centres across BFC are here to help, in partnership with Cypriot Government General Hospitals and Private Clinics/Hospitals.
Medical & Dental Centres
BFC personnel can expect a comprehensive range of healthcare services similar to those available in the UK. Our medical and dental centres, along with the ambulance service, are regulated by the Defence Medical Services Regulator (DMSR) and inspected by the Quality Care Commission (CQC). While we strive to match the quality of care provided by the NHS, the methods of delivery may vary.
Treatment of Patients with Existing Medical Conditions on Assignment to Cyprus (Supportability)
Serving Personnel: You or your family having an ongoing illness may not prevent you from coming to Cyprus, but some illnesses cannot reasonably be treated with the facilities available to BFC. Therefore, if you or a member of your family has an illness or condition that is being treated in the UK, it is very important that you confirm as soon as possible that you can be cared for in Cyprus by consulting your Unit Medical Officer and completing the medical screening forms issued as part of the process of booking your family’s flights.
If necessary, the GP or Unit Medical Officer can discuss your case with a single-Service advisor or the BFC unit’s Senior Medical Officer. It is in your best interest to start this process as soon as you receive your assignment order because, for those few people who have to have their assignment cancelled, it is far worse when they have already packed up their old house, shipped belongings, sold cars and given up jobs, or even have to be repatriated after arrival.
UKBC: You or your family having an ongoing illness may not prevent you from coming to Cyprus, but some illnesses cannot reasonably be treated with the facilities available to BFC. The DBS relocation team will support you with the medical supportability process.
You should not make any financial undertakings until you and your entitled family members are medically cleared and you receive your formal overseas posting notice.
Health insurance for North Cyprus
North Cyprus is a popular holiday or day trip destination but in effect you are entering a foreign country that is not part of the EU.
Your entitlement to “free” medical care at BFC expense ceases at the border and the CHIC is not accepted. Therefore, just like travelling anywhere else outside the EU you will be personally liable to pay the cost of any medical care you need whilst in North Cyprus and it is essential that you take out appropriate travel health insurance to cover this.
Treatment of Non-entitled patients
An important point to remember about the Medical and Dental facilities is that there is no provision to provide free treatment for visitors of British Forces or MOD Civilian personnel serving in Cyprus. (This includes non-BFC service personnel or MOD civilians travelling off duty to Cyprus to visit you.)
UK travellers should apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which should provide access to certain services within the Cypriot Health care system. Importantly, the GHIC card only gives equivalent access to services that a Cypriot would receive, and their state healthcare service is not free.
Furthermore, any visitors would also need cover to medically repatriate them should they need medical assistance to get home. Therefore, it is essential that all visitors, prior to their arrival, obtain adequate medical insurance cover.
Primary healthcare is provided by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) at medical centres located in Episkopi, Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Ayios Nikolaos.
See below for further information on each stations primary medical facilities.
Episkopi
Dhekelia
Secondary healthcare is delivered through a combination of state and contracted hospitals within the Republic of Cyprus.
Emergency Care
In an emergency, you will be admitted to the nearest appropriate state hospital. You must present your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and pay a โฌ10 registration fee, which is reimbursable for BFC personnel.
Hospital admissions can be stressful, but many hospital staff speak English. BFCโs Hospital Liaison Officers and Defence Medical Welfare Officers are available to support you (see Hospital Support Workers section). Upon discharge, you should ask for a discharge summary in English and any diagnostic imaging (e.g., X-rays) on CD. Provide these to your medical centre reception as soon as possible.
Routine Hospital Care
Your GP or dentist may refer you to The American Medical Center (AMC) in Nicosia for inpatient or outpatient care. The AMC is BFCโs contracted hospital, and a shuttle service is available from all medical and dental centres. If the AMC cannot provide the required specialist care, you may be referred to a state hospital in Cyprus or the NHS in the UK.
Maternity and Paediatric Care
Maternity care is managed through โshared careโ between your GP, practice nurse, SSAFA midwife, and an American Medical Center consultant. Most pregnancies are safely managed, but higher-risk pregnancies may require specialist care at Archbishop Makarios Hospital (ABM) in Nicosia. In some cases, expectant mothers may need to return to the UK if complications arise that cannot be managed in Cyprus. ABM is the only specialist mother and child hospital in Cyprus, and all serious or specialist care cases are referred there.
Hospital Support Workers
Hospital Liaison Officers (HLO) assist patients admitted to the Accident & Emergency departments of state hospitals from 2:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Afterward, support is transferred to Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) officers. HLOs are bilingual in English and Greek and provide translation and liaison services.
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) Welfare Officers (WO) support patients admitted to state hospitals from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. They offer welfare support, medical assistance, and Troop Aid for non-emergency admissions.
Accessing Hospital Support Workers: If you are admitted to an Accident & Emergency department, notify your medical centre as soon as possible so that the duty HLO or WO can assist you.
Dental treatment in Cyprus is provided by Defence Dental Services (DDS) and is free to all Service personnel.
UKBCs, UKFM and entitled civilians will be required to pay charges at NHS rates. A copy of current charges, as directed by the Government and which may alter from time to time, is held at the Unit Dental Centres.
Each unit has a Dental Centre and, treatment for entitled personnel is the same as that provided by the NHS in the UK. Normal NHS exemptions rules apply.
See below for further information on each stations dental facilities.
Ayios Nikolaos
In an emergency, call 112 and state your location. It is particularly important to tell the operator if you are inside or outside the Sovereign Base Areas.
The Sovereign Base Areas Ambulance Service operates an emergency ambulance service across the East and West Sovereign Base Areas. The Republic of Cyprus provide the same service for the rest of the Republic. In times of high demand, an ambulance from the Republic of Cyprus may attend.
Community Healthcare services are provided by the Soldiers, Sailors, and Air Forces Association (SSAFA). Services include childrenโs nursing, dietetics, health visiting, midwifery, occupational health, podiatry, speech and language therapy, school nursing, and child and adolescent mental health services.
For more information, visit https://www.ssafa.org.uk/.
Further information can be found on the Welfare page, this covers all BFC sites.
Cypriot Facilities





To discover all the facilities available use the links below. Please note that there are a mixture of public and private medical facilities across Cyprus, these are included in the list on the linked GOV UK website, and some treatments and medical expenses may not be covered by a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).