[Expanding the portfolio of laboratory services in primary care does not increase the cost]

Introduction: Our health care system gives crucial importance to Primary Care, since it is the first step in medical care. The family doctor becomes the filter of the diseases that they attend to and direct the patients to the different services according to their needs. Therefore, a very important role is granted that conflicts with the limitation in access to diagnostic tests. However, in reality it appears that the Primary Care professionals have limitations in order to access complementary tests.

Material and method: After the publication of a list of accessible laboratory tests for Primary Care, the use of these tests was evaluated without any type of limitation, except for the adequacy of the tests to the diagnosis, as happens in the hospital during 6months, measuring the number of determinations and the relative units of value used. A comparison was made with a previous period and with the activity developed.

Results: After 6months of follow-up and with equal care activity, the use of laboratory diagnostic tests decreased by 24%, and the relative value units decreased by 10%.

Conclusions: Access to the portfolio of laboratory services for Primary Care does not translate into an increase in spending, while sending a positive message about the role that primary health care should play in our health system.