Cyprus has introduced a seasonal pharmacy scheme allowing selected outlets in tourist areas to operate on extended hours, staying open until 11 p.m. daily during the summer season.
The scheme, introduced under a Health Ministry decree that came into force in January, is aimed primarily at tourist areas where demand rises sharply during the summer.
Pharmacies in the free area of Famagusta, Limassol, and Larnaca that registered for the scheme have already begun implementing its provisions, according to Phileleftheros sources.
To qualify, a pharmacy must close for at least six consecutive weeks in winter, obtain a licence from the Pharmaceutical Council after submitting an application three months before the intended closure period, and operate in an area where another pharmacy remains open to serve residents year-round.
Seasonal pharmacies may open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Minimum operating hours are also set: during winter, participating pharmacies must remain open until at least 6:30 p.m., and until at least 7:30 p.m. in summer.
Fifteen pharmacies are expected to operate under the scheme this year — 12 in the free area of Famagusta, two in Limassol, and one in Larnaca.
Ploutarchos Georgiadis, president of the Cyprus Pharmaceutical Association, told Phileleftheros the aim was to cover tourist areas where the population more than doubles in summer and demand rises sharply.
“In the rest of Cyprus, the number of pharmacies in operation is already very large relative to the population and there is no need for different hours,” he said.
“This is purely a measure to serve tourist areas, where needs in summer are very different from winter and where there is a genuine gap.”
The Pharmaceutical Council issued the decree under Article 43A of the Pharmacy and Poisons Law following a study of actual conditions, with the aim of meeting increased demand only where necessary without disrupting services in urban centres.