Only 36% of general practitioners use platforms like Doctolib or Maiia

Despite their rapid development since the start of the health crisis, online appointment booking platforms are still little used by doctors, reports Capital. According to a study by the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) published on Wednesday, only 36% of general practitioners use it.

In addition, a third of them still work with on-site appointments at the practice. The share of doctors present on these platforms (Doctolib, Keldoc, Maiia) has however increased with the Covid-19. In 2019, only 23% of GPs used them.

A significant age effect

The development of teleconsultations seems to have played an important role in the phenomenon: 41% of doctors who have already carried out consultations remotely also say they use an online appointment booking tool. Those not using these platforms were only 18% to have already carried out a teleconsultation.

In its study, the DREES also highlights the influence of the age factor. 48% of doctors under 50 use these platforms, when they are only 38% among 50-59 year olds and 26% among those over 60. Another factor: the mode of exercise. Many general practitioners working in multi-professional structures (47%) use these online tools.

Physicians practicing in single-professional practices (32%) and those practicing alone (24%) are much less numerous. Many of these practitioners on these platforms, however, continue to offer an alternative booking method, since only 5% of them only work with online appointment booking.