Reaction from ISTAHED to MHRS application: Making appointments is not the Family Physician's duty

In the new application launched by the Ministry of Health, citizens who cannot obtain appointments from hospitals are sent a message via MHRS stating, "Apply to your family physician; they can create an appointment at the hospital on your behalf." However, ISTAHED emphasized that this system is not a referral chain and that citizens' right to make direct appointments at hospitals continues.

"MISUNDERSTANDINGS MAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS A TARGET"

The following statements were included in the announcement made by the ISTAHED Board of Directors:

“This new system has been misinterpreted in some media outlets as meaning that one cannot go to the hospital without applying to a family physician. This does not reflect the truth. The primary duty of family physicians is to provide primary healthcare services. It is not the responsibility of the family physician to make hospital appointments on behalf of citizens or to resolve disruptions in the system. We examine the patient and, if necessary, refer them to the relevant branch.”

"THE BURDEN OF THE SYSTEM CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN"

The statement indicated that the main purpose of this application is not to operate a referral chain but to offload the inadequacies in the appointment system onto family physicians, and continued as follows:

“The permanent solution is to transition to a planned referral chain with a family medicine system where health literacy is increased and which is cleared of menial tasks. Hospital applications cannot be reduced through misinformation!”

News Source: 12punto