Personal doctor: Finally “criminals” – Pediatricians and rural doctors join the institution

Single EUR 30,000 is given by the Ministry of Health to young doctors who will choose the specialty of Pathology and General Medicine. At the same time, its institution is now strengthened by pediatricians, as it had been known, but also by rural doctors. The government is re-launching the effort to reorganise the multi-disciplinary Primary Health Care (FCH). Older and newer are the points included in the Ministry of Health’s new bill, which is expected to be put into public consultation very soon. These include the abolition of “penalties” and “rewards” associated with registration or not in the institution of the Personal Doctor. At the same time, the Ministry of Health aspires to increase the number of Personal Doctors, joining the institution, rural doctors (ruralists) after specific education they will receive, but also 250 pediatricians, to cover 530,000 children from 0-16 years of age. The same bill will include provisions for the establishment of University Health Centers. Finally, a system of evaluation of the Personal Doctors will be introduced, which will determine their stay in the system. Personal physicians and Personal pediatricians More specifically, in the institution of the Personal Doctor other than the physicians branch of physicians NSY, primary health care structures and individuals who are affiliated with EOPY, are added to the institution of the Personal Doctor, but doctors who wish to acquire the specialty of General/Family Medicine, during the fifth year of their education. To attract the latter, the Ministry of Health establishes the financial incentive of EUR 30,000 net, which will be attributed once and for all. The institution also includes the pediatricians for whom there was no provision in the first announcements of the Ministry of Health. In the first phase the free access of 530,000 children from 0-16 years begins, while the aim is to increase the number of children available by 100 to cover over half a million children in the first phase and to increase the coverage rate of the children’s population. “This policy focuses on reducing health access inequalities and even for a vulnerable population such as children,” said government spokesman Paul Marinakis, during the briefing of political editors (17/09/2024). A “criminals” and “rewards” – A system of evaluation of Personal Doctors is being abolished.The system of “engines” and in particular “anti-engines”, which had stirred up a storm of reactions about 2 years ago, when they were first announced. All citizens are now required to register until 01.06.2025 to a Personal Doctor of their choice, otherwise the system will automatically register them as a Personal Doctor. The registration will take place at the level of the Municipality or Home Municipalities, so that the citizen has access to a doctor near his residence. However, a “Evaluation system” of Personal Doctors is established by applying performance indicators based on objective data. Doctors will receive a reduction from the participation of a registered population in prevention actions etc. “The aim of the Ministry of Health is to effectively supervise the provision of services of the system of Personal Doctors and to strengthen them with appropriate tools so that they can improve the health indicators of the population”, said Paul Marinakis. “Objective, easy access for citizens to Primary” The main provisions introduced by the draft Law on Primary Health Care (FSH), according to the Ministry of Health, aim to increase population coverage, their easy access to a personal doctor, and participation in prevention actions, which will contribute substantially to improving the health indicators of the country’s population. The main changes introduced by the draft law are as follows: 1. The increase in the population of the Personal Doctors. 2. The introduction of an economic incentive to attract 30,000 euros purely to young doctors 3. The anti-incentive system is abolished. 4. The first phase of free access of 530,000 children (0-16 years) to a Personal Pediatrician begins. 5. An effective system of performance indicators for personal doctors is established. 6. Seven University Health Centers are established, one in each Medical School/Department of the country, where they will serve IEP members with a focus: the provision of Health Prevention and Promotion Services to citizens, the training of doctors of Primary Health Care, research, the development of programs aimed at promoting community health and providing telemedicine services. University Health Centers will also be equipped with telemedicine stations. By Janna Soulaki / Source: iatropedia.gr