Health service to start charging for excessive GP visits

The island’s state health services organisation (Okypy) announced that it would begin charging Gesy beneficiaries for excessive visits to family GPs and paediatricians,

In its statement, Okypy said the charges would depend on the age of the beneficiary.

According to instructions from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), if the beneficiary exceeds the maximum number of GP or paediatrician visits set for each age group, they will be obliged to pay a supplement of €15 per extra visit.

The number of visits per year for various age groups has been set at: three visits for 15-18 year-olds, for people aged between 18 and 41 years of age the number of visits is four, for those aged 41-51 years old – six visits, for 51-65 year-olds – eight visits and ten visits for those aged 65 and over.

As far as visits to paediatricians are concerned, the number of visits per year for infants up to a year old is 10 visits, toddlers aged 1-3 years are allowed to see their doctor eight times, seven consultations a year for children aged 3-6 years old, for 6-11 year-olds the limit is four visits and for teenagers aged 11-18 years old – three visits.

It is noted that the above regulation, both for GP visits and for consults with paediatricians, excludes chronic patients, low-income pensioners, recipients of guaranteed minimum income and their children.

The doctor is responsible for informing the beneficiary of any such charge before co-payment is made to secretarial staff at state hospitals and health centres.