The British Army and Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC), where possible, endeavour to provide Service personnel and their families with appropriate and equivalent levels of health, educational and welfare support when assigned overseas. The British Army and the DPHC give maternity and neonatal care the utmost priority and if the support and care is not equivalent to that given in the UK the pregnant family member or Servicewoman needs to be returned to the UK for their delivery.
This is the case for British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) and current policy recommends to leave Kenya by 24 weeks gestation, to ensure the safety of mother and child as there is no midwife within BATUK. Policy has stated that all deliveries take place in the UK and that children can return at 4 months of age, after their initial course of primary immunisations. Due to a yellow fever outbreak in Kenya in March 2022 the advice for returning with babies will be revised so that they cannot return before they have had a yellow fever vaccination. This cannot be given until the baby is at least 6 months of age, so please seek advice from your medical practitioner.
Please contact the Health & Additional Needs team at healthsupport@aff.org.uk or the Overseas team on overseassupport@aff.org.uk for more information.
Back to topFor information on health and dental services in Germany, please visit Germany Enabling Office: Medical & Dental
Back to topFor advice and information on the medical treatment and local health services available in BFC you are advised to read Defence Instructions and Notices (DIN) 2021DIN01-079 – Healthcare Provision in British Forces Cyprus (BFC) – Directory of Local Health Services and Medical Screening Advice. In Annex A of this DIN there is a table that details the medical treatment that is unlikely to be available in BFC.
It is important to remember that there is no provision to offer free medical and dental facilities treatment for visitors to the British Forces/MOD civilian personnel serving in Cyprus. It is essential that all visitors obtain adequate medical insurance cover before they arrive in Cyprus. EU travellers should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which should provide healthcare cover within the Cypriot health care system.
If you need hospital care whilst posted to Cyprus you will be treated at the American Medical Center (AMC).
There are two clinics, one in Limassol and one in Nicosia. Outpatient treatment for people living in Akrotiri or Episkopi will mostly be in the clinic in Limassol. Those living in Ayios Nikolaos or Dhekelia will go to the AMC in Nicosia for the majority of appointments.
It is quite a journey to the AMC, but a bus from camp is provided for those with appointments.
Back to topMost people will now receive a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) when they apply to replace their existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Where individuals have rights under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement they will receive a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC).
The UK GHIC and UK EHIC allows you to get state provided emergency healthcare in Europe. It may not cover all health costs and will never cover repatriation costs. The UK GHIC and UK EHIC are not substitutes for travel insurance.
If you already have a UK EHIC it will remain valid until the expiry date on the card. You can apply for a GHIC up to six months before the expiry date.
Important considerations:
Further information can be found at NHS.UK: Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)
For information on applying for a UK GHIC when overseas see our General overseas postings: Passports, travel & personal admin
Back to topService couples living in British Forces Germany and the Netherlands and Belgium (EJSU) will not receive funding for assisted conception treatment but there is support for fertility investigations to entitled couples.
There is also funding for surgery to correct any anatomical abnormality that is causing the infertility. For more information on assisted conception, speak to your doctor.
BFC does not fund assisted conception treatment but will fund fertility investigations up the point of diagnosis. If you require assisted conception treatment, they will advise you to return to the UK. For more information, speak to your doctor.
It is not advisable to have IVF or other infertility treatment in any other overseas bases because treatment cannot be quality assured or regulated in line with national UK guidelines.
If you are considering having IVF treatment overseas it is advisable to visit the HFEA website for more information and guidance.
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