The German government is facing mounting pressure to address escalating healthcare costs, with Chancellor’s Office Minister Thorsten Frei suggesting increased patient co-payments for medications as a potential solution. Frei, in statements to partner newspapers of the Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft, emphasized the need for “greater individual responsibility” within the system, arguing that the current co-payment structure, largely unchanged for two decades, demands revisiting.
The proposal has already sparked debate amongst health economists, with some advocating for a doubling of the existing co-payment range, currently set between five and ten euros per medication, despite numerous exemptions that dilute the intended effect. Critics point out that this could disproportionately affect lower-income individuals and potentially discourage necessary treatment.
Beyond pharmaceutical costs, Frei also raised concerns regarding Germany’s comparatively high rates of sick leave across Europe. He questioned the medical justifications for these elevated numbers, hinting at potential issues with work culture and incentives, a remark expected to ignite further public discourse on productivity and employee wellbeing within the country.
Frei’s remarks underscore a growing sentiment within the governing coalition to overhaul the German social welfare state. He strongly urged the various reform commissions tasked with evaluating the future of social provisions to be granted autonomy and a mandate for ‘bold action.’ This sentiment highlights a shift towards a more performance-based model, suggesting that reforms require compromise and contributions from all segments of society to be perceived as equitable. The call for time underscores the complexity of the undertaking and signals a lengthy, potentially contentious, process ahead for reshaping the bedrock of the German social safety net.