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Administrative burden (AB) focuses on citizens’ subjective experiences upon facing administrative tasks as potential public policy beneficiaries. This paper examines the AB experienced by professionals in public healthcare, in this case, by general practitioners (GPs). After distinguishing between red tape and AB, we test whether the onerous experience of following guidelines and procedures is associated with their intrinsic motivation (IM) and, indirectly, with patient experience (PE). We base our analysis on surveys of GPs and PE and satisfaction in Catalonia. Using structural equation modelling, the study confirms a negative association between AB and doctors’ IM and a significant but smaller direct and mediated relationship between AB and PE. Efforts to increase professionals’ performance through standardization may increase service quality. This study shows the importance of considering the negative AB relationship between medical professionals and their patients.