Doctor upset: new public health schedules cut into his lucrative private practice
The double life of Spain's public-private doctors: a dermatologist earning €250 per consultation complains about the new scheduling requirements in the public health system.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The doctor who refers patients to his private practice: the model clashing with the new schedules
A dermatologist with a post in Spain's public health system earns 250 euros for half an hour in his private practice. His strategy: referring patients from the public hospital to his clinic, where he charges for "more thorough" care. Now, with the new schedules requiring more hours in the public system, his double activity is suffering. And he is "upset".
The paradox is not new: in Spain, some 30,000 doctors juggle public and private jobs. The problem arises when the line between clinical referral and conflict of interest blurs. In this case, the doctor complains that spending more hours in the public system cuts into his private time, where he actually earns his money. According to the data from the debate, he charges €250 per half-hour consultation, and his private schedule ran from 2 to 6 in the afternoon. If the new requirements force him to leave later, he loses patients and money.
Referral or business?
Several voices in the debate point out that "diverting" patients from the public system to the private one is an abuse. One example: a user mentions that for a wart, the public system offers an appointment months away, but the private one burns it off for €70 per session, three sessions minimum. The criticism is fierce: "That should be a crime, like a tax inspector referring you to his own consultancy." Others, however, defend that working 12 hours a day is legitimate and that the problem lies with the system, not the doctor.
The economic dilemma of double practice
For the doctor, combining public employment (with prestige, pension contributions and holidays) and private work (with high income) was the perfect tandem. But the new schedules break the balance. Those who defend double practice argue that the doctor simply wants to work more hours to earn more, something celebrated in other sectors. Critics reply that the public system is not a platform for drumming up clients.
The debate leaves the question open: to what extent should the public system tolerate its resources being used to feed private practices? The answer is not easy, but the figure of 250 euros per half hour suggests the business is too juicy for a simple scheduling reform to shut down.
Related debates in the forum
A dermatologist with a post in Spain's public health system earns 250 euros for half an hour in his private practice. His strategy: referring patients from the public hospital to his clinic, where he charges for "more thorough" care. Now, with the new schedules requiring more hours in the public system, his double activity is suffering. And he is "upset".
The paradox is not new: in Spain, some 30,000 doctors juggle public and private jobs. The problem arises when the line between clinical referral and conflict of interest blurs. In this case, the doctor complains that spending more hours in the public system cuts into his private time, where he actually earns his money. According to the data from the debate, he charges €250 per half-hour consultation, and his private schedule ran from 2 to 6 in the afternoon. If the new requirements force him to leave later, he loses patients and money.
Referral or business?
Several voices in the debate point out that "diverting" patients from the public system to the private one is an abuse. One example: a user mentions that for a wart, the public system offers an appointment months away, but the private one burns it off for €70 per session, three sessions minimum. The criticism is fierce: "That should be a crime, like a tax inspector referring you to his own consultancy." Others, however, defend that working 12 hours a day is legitimate and that the problem lies with the system, not the doctor.
The economic dilemma of double practice
For the doctor, combining public employment (with prestige, pension contributions and holidays) and private work (with high income) was the perfect tandem. But the new schedules break the balance. Those who defend double practice argue that the doctor simply wants to work more hours to earn more, something celebrated in other sectors. Critics reply that the public system is not a platform for drumming up clients.
The debate leaves the question open: to what extent should the public system tolerate its resources being used to feed private practices? The answer is not easy, but the figure of 250 euros per half hour suggests the business is too juicy for a simple scheduling reform to shut down.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (30 replies).
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