Germany’s association of general practitioners has voiced strong opposition to proposed patient co-payments for visits to doctor’s offices.
Association chair Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth described the proposal, originating from employer associations, as both socially unjust and poorly conceived. She explained that a universal co-payment would require patients to pay for every consultation, irrespective of its nature – whether for cancer treatment, vaccinations, or urgent medical attention.
Ms. Buhlinger-Göpfarth highlighted the financial burden such a fee would place on patients with chronic conditions, such as those requiring dialysis, who often attend numerous appointments annually. She argued the measure would disproportionately affect financially vulnerable individuals and discourage necessary healthcare visits, potentially leading to delayed diagnoses and a lack of preventative care, ultimately contributing to higher healthcare costs in the long run.
While acknowledging the high volume of doctor-patient interactions within the German healthcare system and admitting not all are essential, the association chair asserted that co-payments are not the solution. Instead, she advocated for improved patient guidance and a strengthened primary care system centered around general practitioners. This system would position the family doctor as the first point of contact, referring patients to specialists when necessary.