European Doctor Consultations Vary by Country

Doctor visit frequency in Europe differs widely. People tend to consult doctors less when nurses are involved in healthcare.

The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare services, impacting non-pandemic-related specialist access. Health authorities aim to improve waiting times for consultations, but this frequency varies across Europe, influenced by healthcare delivery and payment models, notes the OECD.

In 2021, Eurostat data indicated that Slovaks, Germans, and Hungarians had the most annual doctor visits, averaging 11.1, 9.6, and 9.4 respectively. Swedes and Greeks, on the other hand, had the fewest, with averages below 3 visits annually. Most EU countries averaged between 4 and 8 visits; Poland led with 7.6, followed by Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain.

Nordic countries reported fewer consultations, with Swedes averaging 2.3 visits in 2021. Danes and Norwegians had fewer than 4, and Finns had 4.1. In contrast, Balkan EU candidate countries, like Montenegro and Turkey, saw higher consultation rates.

Compared to the 2018-2020 period, the average number of doctor visits dropped in 19 out of 24 EU nations. Italy, Lithuania, and Spain saw the largest declines.

Payment mechanisms contribute to these differences. Countries like Slovakia, Germany, and Czechia, with fee-for-service payments to doctors, have higher consultation rates than countries such as Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, where doctors receive salaries or capitation.

High patient co-payments in Switzerland and Ireland might result in fewer consultations. In terms of workload, doctors in Greece have around 428 consultations per year, whereas those in Slovakia have as many as 2,997. Turkish doctors top OECD European members with over 3,500 consultations annually.

The "Big Four" EU countries—Germany, Italy, France, and Spain—have the highest number of practicing physicians, with Austria boasting the most doctors per 100,000 people within the EU and EFTA.

Candidate countries have the lowest doctor ratios, with Turkey, Montenegro, and Serbia trailing. This data allows for insights into European healthcare but should not solely define doctors' productivity as it doesn't account for consultation quality or doctors' additional responsibilities.