Patients - doctors conflicts about referrals

[Paphos Life]

It seems that recently doctors and patients are in constant conflict due to the criteria that the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) set for referrals to specialized doctors, radiology, and laboratory tests. Patients need referrals or renewal of referrals for the specialized doctors treating them but some personal physicians cite the HIO limitations and refuse to ...

Read the article and chat about it below...

[WHL]

Unfortunately speaking with some people they seem to think that if they have the slightest ailment it warrants a visit to a specialist and every blood test known to man, if GESY is to continue, then people must stop abusing it,

[Kili01]

Yes, I have read in the press that some people have been abusing the GESY service.But according to what I remember reading, the culprits are a small number of medics, a few GP's, but also some specialists who have claimed huge sums from GESY in some cases for procedures on certain patients for work that wasn't carried out. Hence the present restriction which according to the local press limits all GP's to a maximum of 66 referrals to specialists per month. Which may give the majority of honest medical practitioners the task of deciding which of their patients they are able to refer, without exceeding their quota.

This is what I remember reading in the Cyprus Mail earlier this summer. But no WHL, I haven't kept an exact note and ref.
So I hope someone else may remember this?

Dee

[memory man]

So I hope someone else may remember this?

Dee

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13188&hilit=66+referrals

[Dominic]

"Tales From The Coffee Shop"

[galexinda]

Unfortunately speaking with some people they seem to think that if they have the slightest ailment it warrants a visit to a specialist and every blood test known to man, if GESY is to continue, then people must stop abusing it,

I have found the service provided by GESY is comparable to the level and speed of tests and treatment I received as a private patient and the only difference, which is a massive difference, is the cost to me of the services GESY provides.

Since GESY started in 2019 I have been registered with 3 different Personal Doctors and with regards to the topic about referrals to see Specialist Doctor I am surprised if I am asked if I would like a referral to see a Specialist Doctor. Surely that is a medical decision?

I agree with WHL that GESY is unsustainable if it continues in its current format - already changes are being made, but a lot more needs to be done.

[Kili01]

Yes, for the first few years there were no restrictions, but unfortunately some people abused this and have been helped presumably, to feather their own nests, while the HIO finally picked up the bill with a huge overspend on GESY budget..
Dee