Primary Care
Primary care is the first level of healthcare you access for general health problems, usually through a GP.
Primary care is the first level of healthcare you access for general health problems, usually through a GP.
Also known as
First-line care, General practice, Family medicine, Ambulatory care
Why travellers need to know
Primary care systems differ dramatically between countries. In some (UK, Netherlands), you must register with a GP practice. In others (France, Spain, most of Asia), you can walk in to any clinic. Knowing how primary care works in your destination means you get treated faster for routine problems rather than defaulting to expensive emergency departments.
Real-world example
You develop an ear infection in Lisbon. You need primary care, not a hospital. You find a centro de saúde (health centre) near your hotel, see a doctor the same day, get a prescription for antibiotics, and pay a modest fee.
Country-specific notes
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Must register with a huisarts; visitors use after-hours GP posts
The Dutch system requires everyone to register with a huisarts (GP). Visitors can access the huisartsenpost (after-hours GP service) without registration for urgent primary care needs. Regular daytime GPs may refuse unregistered patients.
Each region's huisartsenpost has its own phone number; call it first for evening, weekend or holiday GP care without registration.
🇯🇵 Japan
No GP gatekeeping; patients self-refer to any clinic
Japan has no formal primary care gatekeeping. Patients can visit any clinic or hospital directly without referral. Small neighbourhood clinics (shinryojo) provide excellent primary care at low cost, though English availability is limited outside international clinics.
🇺🇸 United States
The US has no universal primary care system — urgent care clinics are the practical option for foreign visitors
US primary care physicians typically require appointment booking and insurance registration. Urgent care clinics accept walk-ins and cost far less than emergency rooms for uninsured patients.
For non-emergency issues in the US, urgent care clinics are faster and cheaper than emergency rooms and require no prior registration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register with a doctor abroad?
In most countries, no. France, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Australia, and most Asian countries let you visit any primary care provider without registration. The Netherlands requires registration for routine GP access, so visitors use the after-hours GP post or a private GP. In England, visitors can register with an NHS GP as a temporary patient.
Can I register with a GP abroad for a short stay?
It depends on the country. England lets visitors register with a GP as a temporary patient for up to 3 months; many other systems do not. Private GP clinics and walk-in centres are the practical option for non-emergency primary care when abroad for less than a few months.
Walk into any clinic abroad and show your Nomedic health summary — the doctor sees your history, medications, and allergies without a phone call to your home GP.