Filenews 2 November 2023
Thousands of patients visit two specialists for the same health problem using both visits included in the referral issued by their personal doctor.
In percentages during the years 2022 and 2023 (to date), 16.58% and 16.64% respectively visited two doctors of the same specialty. In proportion, our percentages show that one in six beneficiaries visited two doctors and if these percentages are translated into numbers, then the picture becomes even clearer. In 2022, according to data extracted by the Health Insurance Organisation from the GHS software, 25,182 patients visited two doctors of the same specialty using the same referral and in 2023 (to date) 19,323.
The HIO proceeded with the recording of data for all medical specialties as part of its effort to address the long waiting time for appointments with a doctor of the General Health System. The recording of the data was made after the reports of specialist doctors to patients who arrange appointments with two doctors of the same specialty using the referral they have at their disposal. It is also recalled that during the broad meeting held at the Ministry of Health about a month and a half ago, the possibility of removing the right to a second free visit to the same referral was put up for discussion, in order to address the phenomenon of double appointments. It is also reported that during the broad meeting all involved made an appointment for a new meeting in early November and the meeting is set for next Monday.
On this basis, the HIO proceeded to the analysis of the actual data, as recorded in the GHS software.
Of particular interest is the fact that double visits also occur in medical specialties for which, based on international data, patients usually do not seek a second medical opinion.
For example, in the specialty of Ophthalmology in both 2022 and 2023, the percentage of beneficiaries who visited two doctors was quite high, reaching 23.88% and 25.77% respectively.
If these percentages are translated into numbers, it appears that out of a total of 15,202 visits, 11,572 beneficiaries visited one doctor, but 3,630 beneficiaries visited two doctors using the same referral.
Similar is the case of Dermatology with rates reaching 14.70% in 2022 and 14.32% in 2023 (to date). In real numbers, in 2022 1,821 beneficiaries visited two doctors and in 2023 (to date) they used the second visit available to 1,349 GHS beneficiaries.
High percentages are also recorded in the specialty of orthopaedics. According to the data resulting from the GHS software, 2022,25 beneficiaries visited doctors of this specialty in 180. 20,056 visited only one doctor but 5,180 beneficiaries, i.e. 20.35% (or one in five) visited two doctors. In 2023, the percentage of beneficiaries who visited two doctors of this specialty (to date) reached 19.06%
The same picture is presented in the specialty of otolaryngology. In 2022, 2.198 patients (20.9% out of a total of 10.515 beneficiaries who visited a doctor of this specialty), visited two doctors and in 2023 the percentage reached 25.8% (2.261 beneficiaries).
In pulmonology, 12.27% of beneficiaries visited two pulmonologists using the same referral, while in 2023 this percentage has already reached 11.50%. That is, in 2023, about one in ten who secured a referral for a pulmonologist visited two doctors of the specialty.
One in ten also appears to have visited two nephrologists in 2023 using the same referral, with the percentage reaching 10.15% to date (in 2022 this percentage was 8.23%).
It is noteworthy that even in medical specialties in which the number of available doctors is small, patients are presented who have secured appointments and have made visits to two doctors.
Indicative is the example of endocrinology, in which, although the numbers are small, the phenomenon of visiting two doctors is still observed. In 2022, 226 beneficiaries visited two doctors (5.41%) and in 2023 to date, 165 patients (5.41%) visited a second doctor. It is reported that 25 endocrinologists are available at the GHS, four of whom are SHSO doctors and the rest are private individuals.
Regarding the other medical specialties, it is indicatively mentioned that in cardiology, the percentage of beneficiaries who visited two doctors using the same referral reached 2023.13% in 79, in urology 14.45% and in pathology (specialist doctors) 14.74%.
The highest percentages, as expected, are recorded in medical specialties whose subject concerns serious and complex surgical procedures.
The largest percentage of all specialties is recorded in vascular surgery (31.03%), followed by thoracic surgery with 26% and neurosurgery with 17.79%.
High percentages are also recorded in specialties related to children, since usually parents, especially when it comes to serious diseases or surgeries, choose to seek a second medical opinion. For example, in pediatric surgery, the percentage in 2023 (to date) reached 20.85%.
