Utilization of Primary Healthcare Services in Türkiye

This study is a research article that evaluates the impact of tiered health services on health expenditures, specifically focusing on patients who visited a dermatology outpatient clinic. The objective is to assess the effect of examinations on health costs when patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare center. The study involved 29,929 patients who completed a questionnaire regarding their health complaints and treatment access habits. Results indicated that a significant number of patients could have been treated at lower-tier healthcare services, with only 5.3% requiring tertiary care. The analysis revealed that 109,502.48 TL was overpaid due to misreferrals. The findings suggest that improving referral patterns could enhance cost-effectiveness and healthcare quality. The study highlights the need for better utilization of primary healthcare services in Türkiye, as many patients prefer tertiary care despite the availability of adequate primary services. Recommendations for addressing these issues are discussed, including potential reforms in patient referral practices.