Germany’s leading medical assessment body is calling for increased transparency and patient protection regarding individually funded healthcare services (IGeL). The Medical Service of the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (MD Bund) released a statement Tuesday asserting that many IGeL procedures do not deliver on promised benefits and may even be detrimental to patient wellbeing.
MD Bund chief Stefan Gronemeyer emphasized a lack of comprehensive risk disclosure within medical practices. He advocated for a requirement that practices regularly provide patients with independent, evidence-based evaluations and information concerning IGeL procedures. He further suggested a cooling-off period, preventing procedures from being performed on the same day they are offered.
Stefan Lange, Head of Evidence-Based Medicine at MD Bund, highlighted concerns regarding hyaluronic acid injections for hip and knee osteoarthritis. Analysis of relevant studies demonstrated that the potential harm frequently outweighs the benefits, with a significantly increased risk of adverse events and minimal, clinically insignificant pain reduction. These injections, a popular orthopedic IGeL, aim to alleviate cartilage degradation by supplementing joint fluid with hyaluronic acid, improving mobility and reducing discomfort.
The organization also expressed reservations concerning the evidence supporting extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for conditions like calcific tendinitis of the shoulder (frozen shoulder) and tennis elbow. Their review of available studies revealed limited conclusive data and sometimes contradictory findings regarding the benefits and risks of ESWT for these conditions. Overall, assessments of both therapies were deemed “unclear” by the MD Bund’s research team.
Lawfully insured individuals in Germany spend at least 2.4 billion euros annually on IGeL, with approximately 400 million euros dedicated to orthopedic treatments. The MD Bund is therefore urging greater scrutiny and improved patient guidance regarding these privately funded healthcare choices.