Expanded Summary

In the normal market, the consumer has prior information and can choose according to his taste, from whom, where, and at what prices to buy the desired goods. It is completely independent of the seller. When buying goods, the consumer takes into account his income and tries to use it to the maximum benefit, that is, he appears as a rational buyer. However, in some cases (eg, car or plumbing repair) the consumer is not fully informed about this or that product and it is difficult to make a choice. At such times, people turn to informed agents to help them make choices.

The situation is even more difficult in the health sector. The market of medical services is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and information asymmetry. The customer does not always have the opportunity to decide on the amount of medical services and treatment methods needed. The decisive role in determining the scope of medical services is assigned to the doctor, not the patient. The doctor assesses the patient's condition, determines the requirement, and prescribes the necessary treatment. At this time, the patient is usually limited to evaluating the rationality of the doctor's actions, because he cannot justify the need for the services provided. The patient becomes dependent on the doctor and the model of the doctor as a patient agent is born, where the doctor determines the amount of medical services needed by the patient.

The paper aims to study the role of doctors in the medical market in the formation of demand for health services.

Keywords: medical market, demand for medical services, supply-induced demand.