President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, has called for an immediate package of measures for the healthcare system after the start of a new federal government. “We urgently need the abolition of the budget for out-of-hospital medical services, which was planned by the coalition but not implemented” Reinhardt told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Friday edition). This would create an incentive for setting up a practice, as there are currently around 5,000 unoccupied doctor’s offices.
Reinhardt also demanded regulations for the recruitment of doctors in retirement age. “The wave of retirees from the baby boomer generation is rolling over in the medical profession as well” said the president of the German Medical Association. Today, almost every fourth full-time doctor is 60 years old or older.
Reinhardt demanded greater flexibility for medical practices, allowing doctors in retirement age to work part-time. Elderly doctors generally no longer want to take on the economic responsibility for their own practice, Reinhardt said. In addition, financial incentives are needed, such as exemption from social security contributions or tax benefits. He welcomed the Union’s planned “Active Pension” with a tax-free income of up to €2,000 for the elderly.
The doctor’s president also called for the government to take swift action to regulate the takeover of medical practices by financial investors. “Clear rules are needed to prevent cherry-picking” Reinhardt demanded. “It can’t be that only the financially lucrative operations are offered, but patients can no longer find anyone for other important diagnoses and therapies” he said. For the supply, only those who offer the entire spectrum of their profession should be allowed, the doctor’s president demanded.