The head of the German General Practitioners’ Association, Markus Beier, has voiced his support for a planned initiative by the Federal Minister of Health aimed at reducing the frequency of doctor-patient interactions.
Acknowledging the complexity within the German healthcare system, Beier stated that patients often struggle to identify the appropriate specialist or service for their specific medical concerns. This, he believes, contributes to the high volume of appointments observed in Germany. He emphasized the increasing strain on the system, particularly in light of the country’s aging population, suggesting such a high level of contact may become unsustainable.
The announcement follows remarks by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken, who highlighted that Germans visit doctors more frequently than individuals in other nations. While acknowledging this trend, she questioned its correlation with improved health outcomes or increased longevity. To address this, Warken is advocating for greater coordination within the healthcare system to minimize unnecessary appointments and expedite access to doctors – both general practitioners and specialists – for those who genuinely require them. She reaffirmed her commitment to implementing a primary care physician system.
Beier echoed the sentiment, reiterating his advocacy for a nationwide primary care physician system where general practitioners act as the first point of contact for patients. He believes such a system would introduce greater structure, directing patients to the most appropriate care pathways and potentially reducing the overall number of appointments while simultaneously enhancing the quality of care. He noted that this approach is already standard practice in many other European countries.
Referring to an existing voluntary “house doctor model” which mandates health insurance funds to provide house-doctor-centered care, Beier urged the government to leverage and strengthen this model, already outlined in the current coalition agreement, rather than attempting a complete system overhaul which he believes would be time-consuming. He stressed the urgency of addressing the evolving needs of the healthcare system.