Medical terms, explained plainly

The first point of contact for the whole family, adults and children alike. A family physician treats acute complaints, manages chronic conditions, carries out preventive checks and coordinates referrals to specialists. What defines the specialty is continuity: the same doctor knows your history and follows it over time.

The doctor you are registered with under GESY, and your first point of contact with the health system. They follow your health over time, prescribe, refer you to specialists and for tests, and maintain your electronic record. Every beneficiary chooses one personal doctor and may change them under GESY rules.

The first level of the health system, where you go before a hospital or a specialist. It covers prevention, diagnosis and management of the most common health problems.

Being followed consistently by the same doctor, so tests, medication and changes in your health are read against your history rather than in isolation.

The formal step by which your personal doctor sends you to a specialist, or for laboratory or imaging tests. Within GESY a referral is recorded electronically in your file.

Tests carried out while you are well, to catch a problem that has no symptoms yet. Which tests are appropriate depends on your age, sex and personal history.

An approach that looks for the underlying cause of a persistent symptom instead of only relieving it. It examines diet, sleep, stress, gut function and metabolism, with targeted laboratory testing and a plan introduced in stages. It complements conventional medicine rather than replacing it.

Treating the patient as a whole: body, sleep, diet, mental state and living conditions, rather than examining one organ or one symptom in isolation.

The academic field of Dr. Alepidis’ MSc. It studies alternative and complementary therapeutic methods, such as homeopathy and acupuncture, systematically and by scientific criteria, and how they can be integrated safely into conventional practice.

Acupuncture practised by a physician on anatomical and neurophysiological grounds rather than traditional energetic schemes. Sterile single-use needles are placed at specific muscle and nerve points, usually for chronic pain, migraine and musculoskeletal complaints, always after clinical assessment and alongside conventional treatment.

A complementary method using individually chosen remedies from natural sources in very high dilutions, selected on the basis of the patient’s whole picture. It is used as an addition to, never a replacement for, medical treatment.

A therapy added to conventional treatment to improve the result or ease symptoms, without replacing medication or surgery. “Alternative” means instead of conventional treatment, “complementary” means together with it.

The record of your conditions, operations, medication, allergies and family history. It is the single most useful diagnostic tool, which is why a first visit is mostly conversation.

A condition lasting months or years that needs regular review rather than a one-off treatment, such as hypertension, diabetes or an underactive thyroid.

An assessment of an existing diagnosis or treatment by another doctor, to confirm the plan or consider alternatives. It is your right as a patient and no offence to your treating doctor.

Documents a doctor issues: an opinion describes your condition and the recommendation, a certificate attests to a fact, for example fitness for work, school or sport.

The General Healthcare System of Cyprus. Beneficiaries register with a personal doctor and can reach their history, prescriptions and referrals through the Beneficiary Portal. The GESY guide on this site explains the steps.

The largest university in Greece and the medical school from which Dr. Alepidis graduated. He later taught general family medicine there to students and residents as a scientific associate.

The scientific society of general and family physicians in Cyprus. It works on continuing education, standards of practice for the specialty and its representation before health authorities. Dr. Alepidis is its secretary.

The world organization of family doctors, with national member societies across the globe. It sets standards for practice and training in general family medicine and runs thematic working groups. Dr. Alepidis chairs its Integrative Medicine group.

A thematic working group inside a scientific organisation that follows one field in depth, coordinates research and education and issues position statements. WONCA’s Special Interest Group on Integrative Medicine covers the integration of complementary therapies into general practice.

The international federation of medical students’ associations, which runs clinical and research exchange programmes in hospitals and universities abroad. Dr. Alepidis trained in seven countries through such programmes.