"Stopgap Solutions That Deepen the Problems"

From the perspective of Svensk förening för allmänmedicin (Swedish Association for General Practice), the current practices by Apoteket, the national pharmacy chain, are creating significant problems for the Swedish healthcare system. Andreas Thörneby, vice chairman of the association, argues that directing patients through an app to a specific provider, Doktor24, without presenting other options, undermines the core principles of accessible and continuous care.

“

The response from Apoteket does not address the core of my criticism – that via an app, patients are channeled to Doktor24 without being given other alternatives.

This approach, according to Thörneby, exacerbates the existing issue of fragmentation within Swedish healthcare. Instead of fostering continuity of care, it leads to a disjointed patient experience. The reliance on "one-off doctors" accessed through such apps, especially when these services are financed through out-of-country reimbursements, introduces unnecessary costs and potentially displaces resources that could be used for more integrated healthcare solutions.

“

In the long run, it undermines the work of healthcare.

While Apoteket may frame their actions differently, the fundamental concern remains the detrimental effect on healthcare quality. The association emphasizes that this is not a minor issue but a central problem that impacts the very foundation of how healthcare is delivered. The current system, driven by app-based referrals, is seen as a "stopgap solution that deepens the problems," rather than addressing the underlying need for a cohesive and patient-centered healthcare service.

“

Apoteket's working methods with casual referrals to one-off doctors reinforce, instead of help to remedy, the quality problem in Swedish healthcare in the form of fragmentation and discontinuity.