Table 1.

Basic characteristic of PHC in the EUprimecare countries

	Hungary	Italy	Spain	Lithuania	Finland	Estonia	Germany
Model type	PHC based on individual generalists	PHC based on individual generalists	PHC based on individual generalists and PHC based on group practices	PHC based on group practices	PHC through health centers	PHC through health centers	PHC based on choice of specialists’ services
Model homogenity	Mainly solo practices	75% solo practices	40% solo practices, 60% group practices	75% group practices	100% health centers	100% health care centers	Mainly ambulatory care specialists in solo practices and some polyclinics
PC practice ownership	Private	Private	Private	75% public, 25% private	98% public	Public	Solo practices are private
Employment type of GP	Private enterpreneurs	Private enterpreneurs	Private enterpreneurs	Mostly employees	Employees	Mostly employees	Private entrepreneurs in practices and employed professionals in policlinics
	Hungary	Italy	Spain	Lithuania	Finland	Estonia	Germany
Payment methods	Capitation and some extra on the basis of the practice characteristics, P4P scheme based on quality indicators	Capitation	Capitation (73%), fees for services (15%), basic allowance (10%), other (2%)	Capitation (85%), fee for service (9%), bonus for the performance (6%)	Salary and additional fee for service, and bonuses for performance.	Salary and capitation (15%)	Mixture of fees per time period and per medical procedure
Gatekeeper for referrals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not characteristic, but national incentives promote the gategeeping role of GPs