Filenews 1 February 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
The 2023 data began to be recorded by the Health Insurance Organisation in order to identify the differences brought about by the new compensation system for GHS personal doctors and the introduction of qualitative criteria and performance indicators (the quality criteria in their current form and ratio began to be applied from the second half of 2023 onwards).
The data recorded for 2022, before the introduction of quality criteria in the form they currently apply, show, however, that the lists of personal doctors are not always full. On the contrary, a large portion of personal doctors (adults and children) have a much smaller number than allowed and do not reach the threshold of 2,500 beneficiaries.
Specifically, and according to the official data of the HIO, the average number of beneficiaries per doctor is 1,264, while the average annual earnings of personal doctors in 2022 were €132,665. Of all personal doctors, as shown by the analysis of the data, 41.9% received annual compensation of up to €100.000, 29.6% had compensation between €100.000 and €200.000, 26% had annual compensation of €200.000 – €300.000 and 2.5% received compensation ranging between €300.000 and €450.000.
The data differ between the three categories of personal doctors of the GHS with some paediatricians presenting the highest compensation, mainly due to their other activities within the GHS, such as their participation in a large number of deliveries.
In 2022, 530 adult personal doctors, 118 children's personal doctors and 89 doctors who hold both specialties and have adults and children registered in their list (children predominate) were available in the GHS in 2022 (without any particular changes in 2023).
As far as adult personal doctors are concerned, the average number of beneficiaries on their lists, as shown by the GHS software, was 1,383. The average compensation reached €134,405 and the analysis of the data shows that only 160 out of 530 received compensation between €200,000 and €300,000 with 138 (out of 160) having received compensation between €200,000 and €250,000. It should be noted, however, that these amounts also include doctors' compensation for other activities, such as home visits and their participation, the on-call duty program during the Weekends and holidays. At the same time, the amount of compensation of personal doctors is taken into account and the age of beneficiaries who have registered in their list. A doctor with a large number of elderly people on his list receives more compensation than a doctor with younger beneficiaries.
As far as paediatricians (children's personal doctors) are concerned, the average beneficiary in their lists was 721 children and the average annual compensation was €107,052.
The analysis of the data shows that 59% received an annual compensation of up to €50.000, 22% received an annual compensation of €50.000 – €150.000, 10.2% received €150.000 – €300.000 (only 3 paediatricians received €250.000 – €300.000) and 8.5% received between €300.000 and €450.000 (5 doctors had compensation over €350.000). It is stated that the level of compensation for paediatricians also depends on the age of the children on their list. The younger the children, the higher the compensation per capita. At the same time – and in addition to participation in childbirths – paediatricians' income increases (with the additional amounts included in the allowances referred to) and from their participation in the on-call program during weekends and holidays, as well as from their participation in children's ambulance transports.
Finally, regarding the category of personal doctors who have both children and adults on their list, the average beneficiary was 1,275 and the average annual earnings were €156,265 with 80% of the compensation for children.
The reimbursements of GHS personal doctors in 2022 mainly concerned per capita income, since some performance indicators had been included in the system to a very limited extent. The implementation of the system of qualitative criteria and performance indicators from the second half of 2023 onwards determined 80% as per capita income, with the prospect, as already known, of reaching by the end of 2024 a ratio of 70% per capita income and 30% on the basis of qualitative criteria and performance indicators, as was the initial design of the GHS. In this way – and as shown by preliminary data – the reimbursements of personal doctors began to vary in 2023. The analysis of the data, however, is not yet complete.
The HIO asks for time to fully implement the 10-day limit on referrals
"We will not achieve our goal if we do not all work together. Doctors, patients and HIO", stressed the deputy general director of the Health Insurance Organization, Athos Tsinontidis, appealing to citizens to show patience until the new system that will be implemented from tomorrow and concerns referrals to specialist doctors works properly.
"With the new referrals that will start to be implemented from tomorrow and will be of two categories, "urgent" and "routine", we aim to serve on the one hand patients facing an urgent problem and on the other hand to facilitate our doctors, who will know in advance the condition of a patient who addresses them and will make their planning accordingly having emergencies as a priority. We believe that our doctors have already done this to a large extent, but now we are going one step further because now in a documented way our personal doctors will be able to guide more correctly the specialist doctors of the system", said Mr. Tsinontidis and added: "We have also informed doctors that urgent referrals must be settled within ten days from the issuance of the referral. However, I think we all have the sense to understand that our doctors, especially the most popular doctors, already have their appointments filled for next month, maybe longer. That's why, until the new system balances, we have to give them time."
Addressing the personal doctors of the GHS, Mr. Tsinontidis said: "We also ask our personal doctors to make good use of the tool they now have in their hands" and addressing citizens and specialist doctors, he said: "We all have a responsibility because if beneficiaries pressure doctors to classify their referrals as urgent or some doctors do not respond to the characterization of the urgent referral, It means we won't achieve our goal."
