At the Doctors’ Day, physicians debate reforms in the healthcare system with one another and with Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach. Criticism from many directions is loud in advance.
Before the German Doctors’ Day, doctors and patient representatives complained about numerous shortcomings in the German health care system. Medical Association President Klaus Reinhardt, who is up for re-election, leveled criticism at the reform plans of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD): “I believe that he really wants to change things for the better. But with the best will in the world I can’t see a common thread in his reforms Hardly anything fits together, a lot remains piecemeal,” said Reinhardt of the “Rheinische Post”.
Reinhardt also wants the telephone sick note back, which expired on March 31st. To further relieve the practices, he demands in the newspaper a fee for patients who consult several doctors: “I am in favor of a deductible in particularly blatant cases of doctor hopping.”
Criticism of cannabis legalization plans
He was critical of Lauterbach’s cannabis legalization plans and in this context welcomed Bavaria’s intention not to allow any model regions for state-licensed cannabis trading. In addition, Reinhardt advocates a “German Health Council”, which, based on the model of the Ethics Council, makes recommendations independently or on behalf of the government. He told the editorial network Germany (RND).
Before the Doctors’ Day, the German Foundation for Patient Protection criticized the declining willingness of many doctors to make house calls. “A decline of more than 25 percent in just ten years is alarming,” said chairman Eugen Brysch of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ).
To make matters worse, almost 80 percent of home visits are made to people over the age of 75. “The often pre-ill and immobile people often lack the strength to visit the practice,” said Brysch. The foundation would also like to see improvements in the sluggish digitization of medical care.
Other topics of the meeting
Another topic that occupies many patients are the so-called medical care centers (MVZ), in which employed doctors work and which often belong to private non-medical investors. In an open letter signed by 188 doctors in MVZ, those affected turn against “the blanket allegations and implied contempt for our work”.
Critics accuse the MVZ of poorer and profit-oriented patient care. This cannot be proven, according to a statement by the Federal Association of Operators of Medical Care Centers. Nevertheless, these allegations finally arrived in politics due to “the constant encouragement from the medical professional representation”.
Reform plans for the health system and better health education for children are to be central topics in Essen from today. During the four-day meeting, the 250 delegates will also re-elect the leadership of the German Medical Association. The chairwoman of the Marburg Association of Doctors, Susanne Johna, is running against Reinhardt. The Doctors’ Day is the general meeting of the German Medical Association, which represents the interests of 550,000 doctors.
Source: Stern
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