secondary health care

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Secondary health care refers to medical services provided by specialists or facilities when a patient is referred by a primary care physician. This level of care is part of a pyramidal structure in health services, sitting above primary care and below tertiary care. It often involves the use of technology found in local or regional hospitals and is for patients who require specialized diagnosis or treatment that cannot be fully addressed at the primary level. The cost per service at this tier is higher than primary care, and it caters to a smaller number of patients who are filtered from the first tier.12

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