Andorra Health Minister Defends Preferential Healthcare Pathway
Helena Mas rejects criticisms of increased bureaucracy and shortages, citing high patient satisfaction and WHO alignment in parliamentary defense.
Key Points
- 94% of patients recommend their primary doctor; 90% feel well-known by them.
- Pathway mandates primary consultation before specialist referrals, per WHO guidelines.
- Healthcare spending rose to €190.5M in 2024 due to ageing population, not system.
- 56 primary physicians, up from 2017; no overload or emergency surge.
Health Minister Helena Mas has strongly defended Andorra's preferential healthcare pathway, asserting it remains the optimal model for delivering coordinated care and rejecting any suggestion it is under review.
Responding to questions from Andorra Endavant leader Carine Montaner in parliament, Mas denied the system has increased bureaucracy, caused specialist shortages, raised healthcare spending beyond existing trends, boosted emergency visits, or saturated primary care doctors. She emphasised that the pathway—requiring primary physician consultation before specialist or non-urgent referrals—aligns with World Health Organization recommendations to strengthen primary care as a foundation for quality, accessible services.
Mas cited the latest National Health Survey showing high public trust: 94% recommend their reference doctor to others, 90% say their doctor knows their key health issues, and 94.5% turn to primary care for new problems. Over 75% of patients report same-day access to their doctor during open hours for urgent needs. With 56 contracted primary care physicians—nine more than in 2017—Mas dismissed claims of overload, noting continuous monitoring detects health changes early for prompt specialist referrals when needed.
The minister reiterated no link exists between the pathway and rising wait times or worsened severe cases, as urgent referrals occur immediately. Healthcare expenditure has grown steadily from €132.7 million in 2017 to €190.5 million in 2024 due to an ageing population, more chronic illnesses, service enhancements, and professional fee increases—a pattern seen across countries before and after the system's launch. Andorra devotes 5.9% of GDP to health, below regional averages.
Benefits include improved care tracking, fewer unnecessary referrals, and reduced pressure on emergencies and specialists, overseen by the Cosvai commission. Mas turned down calls for a public consultation or referendum, framing the pathway as a firm commitment to an efficient, sustainable, patient-centred system under ongoing vigilance.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: