Primary care physicians have two roles: the healer and the gatekeeper. We show that, due to information asymmetries … truly sick and shirkers, will strictly prefer physicians who give priority to healing. The choice between work and sick … leave thus lies, essentially, with the patient. Interviews with Norwegian primary care physicians confirm this: Our …

Although physicians are often expected to be gatekeepers to health insurance benefits such as paid sick leave, research … most physicians prefer to be good gatekeepers, all of them may trust their patients in Nash equilibrium. These ideas are … illustrated using results from focus group interviews with Norwegian primary care physicians. …