The Health Insurance Organization (HIO) is significantly expanding the package of services provided by podiatrists within the framework of the General Health System (GHS), adding new categories of patients who will be able to receive specialized care, while at the same time increasing the maximum number of visits for certain serious diseases.
The changes, according to the HIO, will be implemented from tomorrow (July 17, 2026).
According to the HIO announcement, the amendments are part of the continuous review and optimization of the podiatrists' service package, with the aim of improving the quality of the services provided, the more effective prevention of complications and the harmonization with internationally recognized good practices.
The most important change concerns the expansion of the list of diagnoses for which beneficiaries can be referred to a podiatrist through the GHS.
Patients with type 1, type 2 diabetes mellitus, other forms of diabetes and unspecified diabetes without complications are now added to the list, who will be entitled to one preventive visit per year.
This change, as the HIO points out in its briefing to professionals, aims to early assess and prevent problems in the lower extremities before serious complications occur.
At the same time, the GHS includes a number of diseases related to microcirculation, skin, connective tissue and peripheral nerves, for which patients will be entitled to up to five visits per year.
These include Raynaud's syndrome, various forms of scleroderma, cutaneous vasculitis, calcification of the skin (calcinosis cutis), sclerodactyly, as well as connective tissue diseases and pharmacogenic polyneuropathy.
This expansion is expected to cover more patients who show an increased risk of developing ulcers, wounds, or other serious complications in the lower extremities, allowing for early intervention by specialized podiatrists.
Large increase in visits for diabetics
An increase in the maximum number of visits for patients who already receive relevant services through the GHS is particularly important.
Specifically, for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral circulatory complications, the number of reimbursed visits increases from five to 24 visits per beneficiary per year.
This is a particularly important change, as these patients face an increased risk of developing diabetic foot, chronic ulcers and amputations, which makes frequent monitoring and care by a podiatrist necessary.
More care for kidney patients
A similar increase is predicted for patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease.
For this group of patients, visits through the GHS increase from five to twelve per year.
