Cash bonuses for doctors who cut down on prescriptions and tests
Cash bonuses for doctors who cut down on prescriptions and tests
DOCTORS in the Comunidad Valenciana who hand out fewer prescriptions and send patients for fewer tests in hospital will earn bonuses, the regional health minister has announced.
A consultancy firm has been appointed by the Generalitat to work out the 'average' number of necessary tests and prescriptions, and re-negotiate contracts with health centres.
GPs who keep costs to the average or below will be rewarded financially.
If financial objectives are not met across the board, the consultancy firm will be 'fined' – although the regional health authorities say it is 'unlikely' the firm will create 'unrealistic targets' and, if these targets are indeed met, it will be given a percentage of the money saved.
Health centres will no longer have any jurisdiction to employ private staff or contract them on a temporary or one-off basis, since the consultancy firm will have the last word.
“Doctors who contribute towards saving money will be rewarded with a percentage of the money saved,” the health authorities say.
They claim there will be no reduction in standards of healthcare, only in costs.
But the opposition says the public health system 'as we know it' has now 'died a death' and says it will probably end up being privatised.
