Estonian Association of General Practitioners: e-consultation in psychiatry creates false hopes

The Estonian Association of General Practitioners has issued a public statement warning that mandatory e-consultation in psychiatry starting in 2027 will not actually improve access to mental health care. The association highlights necessary changes to healthcare organization and emphasizes the role of general practitioners in addressing mental health issues.

The Estonian Association of General Practitioners has issued a public statement arguing that the government's plan to implement mandatory e-consultation in psychiatry from 1 January 2027 will not solve the problem of mental health care accessibility. According to the association, such an approach creates false expectations among the public rather than actually reaching those in need of help.

What the association criticises

According to the Association of General Practitioners, e-consultation is not a substantively new solution to mental health crises, but rather an administrative add-on that further burdens the system. General practitioners consider the core problem to be that demand for psychiatric care far exceeds supply, and digital consultation will not close this gap.

The association emphasizes that general practitioners and their teams already have the competence to address many mental health problems, but this requires adequate resources, training and clear work organization. Without these conditions, both e-consultation and other digital solutions will remain ineffective.

What general practitioners expect from the state

In its public statement, the Estonian Association of General Practitioners raises several important demands for changes to healthcare organization. According to the association, the priority should be to invest in mental health services at the primary care level, ensure appropriate support within general practitioner teams, and establish clear division of responsibilities between primary care and specialist services.

The association warns that without systemic changes, a situation will emerge where patients expect help through e-consultation that cannot actually be provided in reality. This damages both patient trust in the healthcare system and the ability of general practitioners to work effectively.