[orwin]

To get standard blood exams (cortisol, insulin, triglycerids, HDL/LDL) reimbursed in France/Spain/Germany/Romania you only need a doctor note (and not even that if you test for STD).

Of course if you need specialized blood tests that need spectrometry or dna analysis or any expensive analysis you need a specialist appointment and that takes longer, but bureaucracy is the only way to make sure no one abuse the system. In worst case scenario, if the doctor thinks you should have priority, you will get it. And sometimes they are wrong. But it's a choice made to reduce overall cost, to avoid abuse.