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Planned primary doctor system in Hesse: Skepticism dominates the debate!
The KV Hessen expresses skepticism about the federal government's planned primary doctor system, which could restrict the freedom to choose a doctor.
Planned primary doctor system in Hesse: Skepticism dominates the debate!
In Hesse, the health care system is simmering: The Hesse Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians is skeptical about the federal government's plans to introduce a primary doctor system. According to Armin Beck, the board member for general practitioners at KV Hessen, most patients do not need control over their access to specialists. The chairman of the board for medical specialists, Frank Dastych, points out that there is no significant improvement in medical care in countries with such a system. “In Germany we have the shortest waiting times for specialists in Europe, but little patience among patients,” says Dastych. However, the KV does not want to commit itself because many questions are still open, reports hessenschau.de.
The idea of the primary doctor system is for patients to first see their family doctor before being referred to a specialist. Exceptions should apply to gynecologists, ophthalmologists and dentists. Despite the KV's concerns, the Hesse General Practitioners Association generally assesses the plans positively. Christian Sommerbrodt, the chairman of the association, sees this as a “pre-filtering” that could be particularly useful for unclear complaints such as headaches. The State Medical Association also supports the initiative, provided that the system allows flexibility and individual needs are taken into account.
Discussions about improving patient care
The discussion about the new system is also accompanied by the need for better patient management. It is hoped that this will result in quicker appointments and more efficient care. But how useful are such systems really? Patients and doctors are called upon to discuss these questions openly. gesundheitsinformation.de advises to clarify the usefulness of treatment options by talking to the relevant experts. Such a dialogue can help to better understand the advantages and disadvantages without replacing individual advice.
The plans presented here could help to increase efficiency in the healthcare system, but the biggest challenge remains: How do you integrate the flexible, individual needs of patients into such a system? Clear demarcation will be crucial to enable the benefits of “pre-filtering” without unnecessary hurdles.