Kyrenia Military Hospital: Civilian Patient Access
What the Kyrenia (Girne) Military Hospital's civilian-patient service covers, who is eligible, how to book an appointment, and the ongoing dispute with medical professional bodies; informational only, not medical advice.
Kyrenia (Girne) Military Hospital (known locally as Girne Askeri Hastane) is an institution linked to Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, operating in Kyrenia, which under a Turkey-TRNC protocol also treats civilian patients. This page summarises, cautiously and based on official and news sources, who can use the service, how appointments work, and the ongoing dispute with professional medical bodies. Nothing here is medical advice; for official and current information rely on the appointment line and the relevant institutions' own announcements.
If you are settling in North Cyprus and want the wider picture — state hospitals, the Health Fund levy, private insurance — see Healthcare in North Cyprus.
A separate institution, not a substitute for the state hospital
Kyrenia Military Hospital is not a replacement for, or an alternative to, the Girne Dr. Akçiçek State Hospital (GAH), which sits under the Ministry of Health. It is a separate institution linked to Turkey's Ministry of National Defence. For the TRNC's state hospital network, insurance options and the Health Fund levy, see Healthcare in North Cyprus.
Timeline
Construction began in 2021; appointment-based consultations for civilians started in the summer of 2024, and the official opening ceremony took place on 14 November 2024. On 24 December 2024, under the Turkey-TRNC protocol, the hospital began treating insured TRNC citizens. In May 2026, the Minister of Health submitted the protocol's ratification bill to parliament; on 4 June 2026, the Turkey-TRNC "Health Service Support Protocol" was published in the Official Gazette, and it took effect on 5 June 2026. This resolved the earlier "ratification still in process" uncertainty, and the eligibility groups were also settled with this protocol.
Who is eligible
Under the protocol, the following groups can use the service:
- TRNC and Turkish citizens actively registered with the Social Insurance Office (SSD)
- TRNC public officials and healthcare workers
- Public-sector retirees and their dependants
- Veterans, their families, and families of the fallen
This does not mean the service is open to everyone. For students, the rule is explicit: simply "being a student" is not enough — the student must themselves be actively SSD-registered (for example, insured through a student work permit) or must qualify as a dependant/insured relative through a parent. A student without active insurance cannot get outpatient care here. In an emergency, first aid is free to everyone regardless of insurance status. Confirm the exact boundaries of coverage, and whether your own situation falls within these groups, with the appointment line.
Treatment for eligible groups is offered free, with the cost described as covered by Turkey. Do not read this as "free for everyone": the free-of-charge arrangement is tied to the eligibility condition above.
Appointments
An appointment is mandatory; no walk-in access is reported. The appointment/switchboard line is +90 392 815 21 14; once connected, extension 1 routes you to the appointments desk. No confirmed official website or announcement channel for the hospital itself was found; the number may change, so verify it and follow current announcements before calling.
The hospital's address is Şehit Dursun Özsaraç Sokak No:2, Kyrenia — in the city centre, above the old harbour.
The ongoing dispute with KTTB
The Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB) states that KTTB membership is a legal requirement to practise medicine in the TRNC; in statements issued since the hospital's opening, it has said that physicians treating civilian patients there should meet this requirement, and that it was not consulted during the protocol's preparation. The Ministry of Health and other parties to the protocol see the matter differently — this page takes no side. Physiotherapy and dental associations have made similar statements. The professional bodies' objections are ongoing, and the protocol's implementing rules may still change even though the protocol itself is now in force — follow official announcements for the current position.
What is not known
No official, publicly available source was found on the following, so this page makes no claims about them:
- The full list of outpatient departments actually operating
- The scope of inpatient care and whether it is currently offered
- A formal patient complaint mechanism
Related guides
- In an emergency, go to the nearest state hospital's emergency department, not here: Emergency Numbers and On-Duty Pharmacies
- For the wider TRNC healthcare system, state/private split and the Health Fund levy: Healthcare in North Cyprus
FAQ
Who is eligible to use Kyrenia Military Hospital as a civilian?
TRNC/Turkish citizens actively registered with the Social Insurance Office (SSD); TRNC public officials and healthcare workers; public-sector retirees and their dependants; veterans, their families and families of the fallen. Simply 'being a student' is not enough on its own — a student qualifies only if they themselves are actively SSD-registered (for example, through a student work permit) or are covered as a dependant/insured relative through a parent. Confirm your own eligibility with the appointment line before assuming coverage.
Is the Kyrenia military hospital free for TRNC residents?
Treatment for eligible groups is offered free, with the cost reported as covered by Turkey. That does not mean free access for anyone uninsured or outside the eligible groups — someone without active insurance cannot get outpatient care here. Confirm your eligibility with the appointment line.
Can students use this hospital?
Only under specific conditions: the student must themselves be actively registered with the Social Insurance Office (SSD) — for example under a student work permit — or covered as a dependant/insured relative through a parent. A student without active insurance cannot get outpatient care here; in an emergency, first aid is free to everyone regardless of insurance status. Confirm your own situation with the appointment line.
How do I book an appointment?
The appointment/switchboard line is +90 392 815 21 14; once connected, extension 1 routes you to the appointments desk. No walk-in access is reported. The hospital is located at Şehit Dursun Özsaraç Sokak No:2, Kyrenia (city centre, above the old harbour). Numbers can change; follow current announcements before calling.
Does this hospital replace the Girne Dr. Akçiçek State Hospital (GAH)?
No. Kyrenia Military Hospital is a separate institution linked to Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, distinct from GAH, which sits under the TRNC Ministry of Health. For GAH and the wider healthcare system, see [Healthcare in North Cyprus](/en/rehber/saglik/healthcare-system).
Is the Turkey-TRNC protocol officially in force, or still pending approval?
It is in force. The Turkey-TRNC Health Service Support Protocol was published in the Official Gazette on 4 June 2026 and took effect on 5 June 2026, resolving the earlier uncertainty over its ratification. The eligibility groups were also settled with this protocol.
What is the dispute with the Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB)?
KTTB states that membership in the association is a legal requirement to practise medicine in the TRNC, and it has said in public statements that physicians at the hospital should meet this requirement and that it was not consulted during the protocol's preparation. The Ministry of Health and other parties to the protocol see the matter differently. This page takes no side: the dispute is ongoing among professional bodies, and the rules may change — follow official announcements for the current position.
Should I go here in an emergency?
No. In an emergency, call 112 and go to the nearest state hospital's emergency department. See [Emergency Numbers and On-Duty Pharmacies](/en/rehber/saglik/emergency-pharmacy) for emergency contacts.
Legal note: This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Confirm current details with the relevant authority before acting.
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