If you’ve ever woken up with a stinging sore throat or the tell-tale signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know the drill. You call your primary care physician, hope for an open slot, or resign yourself to a long wait at an urgent care clinic, all to get a simple prescription. It’s a frustratingly slow dance for a problem you likely already know the answer to.
But if you were waking up in London, Paris, or Berlin, your morning would look very different. In many European healthcare systems, the “doctor’s visit” is becoming obsolete for a wide range of common, non-emergency conditions. Instead of waiting hours or days for an appointment, Europeans can often walk down the street to their local pharmacist, have a quick chat, and walk out with the medication they need.
While the regulatory landscape here in the States is different, the desire for accessible, efficient care is universal. Understanding why Europeans don’t see doctors for mild conditions sheds light on how healthcare is evolving globally, and how services like telehealth for minor or low-risk illnesses are finally bringing that same level of convenience to American patients.
