WHO report examines personal doctors’ role in Gesy referrals

Nicosia, Cyprus. A World Health Organisation report has examined the role of personal doctors in Cyprus’ national health system, Gesy, finding that many patients continue to seek direct access to specialist care.

Report findings

The report, titled ‘Strengthening primary health care and reducing overprovision of low-value specialist care: policy options for Cyprus’, was prepared for the WHO and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies by four experts, including academics from LSE and Brown University.

It noted benefits since Gesy was introduced in 2019, including a decline in the share of the population reporting unmet healthcare needs.

According to the report, the figure fell from 1.4 per cent in 2018 to 0.1 per cent in 2022, below the EU27 average of 2.2 per cent.

Specialist referrals

The report said personal doctors are intended to serve as the first point of contact and help streamline access to services. Cyprus has about 800 personal doctors, each with a patient list capped at 2,500 people.

However, it said patients accustomed to direct access to outpatient specialists often view personal doctors as bureaucratic gatekeepers rather than trusted care providers.

The report also cited cultural factors and perceptions that outpatient specialists are more capable or accessible than personal doctors as reasons for the preference for specialist care.

Figures from the Cyprus Health Insurance Organisation show that about 35 per cent of visits to a personal doctor result in a referral to a specialist. The equivalent referral rate in Britain’s NHS is between 8 and 12 per cent.