German citizens are set to face increased expectations for personal responsibility within the healthcare system, according to statements made by Minister for the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei (CDU). Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Frei highlighted the financial realities underpinning the nation’s healthcare provisions, emphasizing that even with contribution-based financing, services are not without cost for individuals.
He further stated that a greater emphasis on personal accountability is required within the statutory health insurance system. The current practice of patients directly accessing specialists, he argued, is both financially unsustainable and inefficient. Frei affirmed the importance of adhering to the primary care physician principle, whereby patients are initially directed to their general practitioner, a commitment enshrined in the governing coalition agreement.
Germany’s healthcare expenditures currently reach approximately €500 billion annually, with statutory health insurance performance-based costs reaching around €330 billion in 2024 alone. Frei noted that Germany possesses one of the most expensive healthcare systems in Europe, characterized by a high number of physician visits and a significant number of hospital beds.
He also expressed concern regarding the country’s high number of sick days, which are reportedly twice that of France and advocated for increased efficiency and targeted resource allocation within the healthcare sector.