The rate of missed appointments with doctors without warning is down this year, according to the annual survey published Wednesday by Doctolib.
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Appointments not honored by patients are less frequent today compared to 2023, according to the latest statistical survey published Wednesday, July 3 by Doctolib. The rate of “didn’t come, didn’t warn”as the medical appointment booking service calls them, all specialties combined, fell from 4.1% in February 2023 to 3.3% in June 2024, a drop of 0.8 points in 16 months.
“The rates measured among Doctolib users are down compared to 2023 for all professions studied”we can read. Concerning general practitioners and pediatricians, the rate of “rabbits” went from 3.4% to 2.6% over the period studied. A downward phenomenon that also affects the category of dental surgeons, but with a rate of missed appointments that remains high: 4.7% in 2024 against 6.2% in 2023.
According to Doctolib data, the “new patients”those who do not know the doctor before the appointment, are also, as last year, those who have rates of “didn’t come, didn’t warn” among the highest despite a decrease (6.4% in 2023 and 5.4% in 2024). We also ask more “rabbits” when we make an appointment in a health center than directly with a liberal professional.
A “rabbit tax” pending
If the situation has improved over the past year, it is, according to Doctolib, thanks to its new features, in particular the one that regularly reminds patients of their appointments, with push notifications in addition to the emails and text messages sent. “Patients are now asked about the reasons for their cancellation in order to make them more responsible”notes the service.
To combat unscrupulous patients, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced last April the creation of a “rabbit tax”a financial penalty of 5 euros per appointment not honored without at least 24 hours’ notice. The measure, due to the dissolution of the National Assembly, has not yet seen the light of day.