Treatment waiting lists
Treatment waiting lists arise primarily because there are more people in need of assistance than the healthcare system can currently accommodate.
A waiting list is a list of patients who have registered to receive a service.
The waiting time is the time spent on the waiting list (from booking to appointment).
The median waiting time shows how long patients wait on average for their first appointment, based on data from the previous month. More specifically, half of the patients will be seen within this time or sooner, and half will have to wait the same amount of time or longer.
Service area brings together services that are related in terms of specialty. For example, the field of endocrinology includes appointments with endocrinologists, diabetes nurses, and other doctors and nurses in the relevant field.
Why do treatment queues occur?
The purpose of the national health insurance system is to ensure that all people insured in Estonia have access to the necessary medical care. There are approximately 1.2 million people with health insurance in Estonia, while there are nearly half as many taxpayers – 650,000.
When there are more people in need of assistance than there are opportunities to provide it, waiting lists for treatment arise. These depend on both the funding available in the healthcare system and the number of doctors, rooms, and equipment. Healthcare institutions plan their work according to their capabilities.
The purpose of the national health insurance system is to ensure that all people insured in Estonia have access to the necessary medical care. There are approximately 1.2 million people with health insurance in Estonia, while there are nearly half as many taxpayers – 650,000.
When there are more people in need of assistance than there are opportunities to provide it, waiting lists for treatment arise. These depend on both the funding available in the healthcare system and the number of doctors, rooms, and equipment. Healthcare institutions plan their work according to their capabilities.
What determines waiting times?
Waiting times are affected by how many appointments a healthcare facility offers for initial, repeat, or emergency visits.
The busyness of doctors, nurses, and operating rooms.
High number of callbacks – the more repeat appointments, the longer the queue.
Patient preferences (if they want a specific doctor or hospital).
Failure to show up for appointments, leaving time unused (estimated at 10-15% by hospitals).
The contract volume between the Health Insurance Fund and the healthcare institution, i.e. how much of the service can be financed. The Health Insurance Fund can influence this by changing the contract amounts if funds are available.
The combined effect of all these factors determines waiting times, which the Health Insurance Fund and medical institutions strive to keep as short as possible.
The combined effect of all these factors determines waiting times, which the Health Insurance Fund and medical institutions strive to keep as short as possible.
How can waiting times be reduced?
What can each individual do to reduce waiting times?
What is the Health Insurance Fund doing to shorten waiting lists?
