General practitioners in stress: free choice of doctor versus faster specialist date!

General practitioners in stress: free choice of doctor versus faster specialist date!

Bad Orb, Deutschland - The topic of health system and the search for a specialist is currently being discussed intensively. On June 16, 2025, heated debates about the planned primary doctor model, which was presented by Minister of Health Nina Warken, were led at the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. The general practitioner association criticized the model, since it in their opinion has "loopholes" and leaves many questions open, especially for patients who want to keep the freedom of choosing a doctor. [Medical Tribune] (https://www.medical-tribune.de/meinung-und-dialog/artikel/fausche-freie-zent-knelle-zt-mittel- Fachzornatung) reports that the KBV system is positioned politically robust. The KBV board remains unimpressed by the critical voices and emphasizes that 90% of medical fees are generated with statutory health insurance (GKV) via collective contracts.

The nervousness of the discussion participants was noticeable. In the VV, a position paper on outpatient patient control was adopted with only seven votes against and three abstentions. At the center of the debates was the "mandatory primary doctor system" and the possible restriction of the free choice of doctor in the selective and collective contract system. Now many would like to know how this will affect their health care, especially in view of the current vacancy of around 5,000 household seats. Dr. Petra Reis-Berkowicz, one of the vaccine speakers, does not see this as an obstacle to introduce the primary medicine system.

patient care and efficiency

The coalition plans aim to increase the efficiency of the health system. Warking unites that the general practitioners in particular cope with fewer bureaucratic hurdles and digitization should be promoted. The primary doctor model provides for a basic supply, except for only gynecologists and ophthalmologists. It is also new that in cases where a specialist date is not available promptly, there should be the possibility of switching to a hospital.

However, it was also warned that the planned changes could overwhelm the existing structures. The Federal Medical Association in particular expressed concerns about the treatment coordination. President of the doctor Klaus Reinhardt pointed out that many patients are solely responsible for organizing their care. Only a third of the Germans seem to be interested in a primary doctor system; The rest of the majority would like to keep the free choice of doctor.

welcome reforms or bureaucracy brake?

A survey showed that 68% of Germans were willing to exchange their free choice of doctor for faster specialist dates. This could be a sign of the upheaval in the ideas of the health system. The popular appointment service 117 117 could become the decisive point, especially for insured persons without a family doctor. At the same time, there is criticism of the primary doctor model, whereby the numerous exceptions are considered critical. According to the Tagesschau, there are claims after personal participation for uncontrolled access to specialists to change the behavior of the patient.

But what about the numbers? With 213 hospital admissions per 1,000 inhabitants, Germany is well above the EU average in 2022. This shows that there are major challenges in outpatient care. According to [VDEK] (https://www.vdek.com/magazin/ungs/2024-04/Gesundheit-Deutschland-europa-vergleich.html), the proportion of diseases such as diabetes or heart failure that could also be treated outpatiently is worrying. At the same time, our health system works well for many patients - the access options are high and there are relatively few untreated patients.

show all of these aspects: It is time to take a closer look at the health system and to develop well -thought -out reforms in order to improve patient care and to relieve the structures. It remains to be seen how the primary doctor system continues. In any case, it is clear that the discussions about this topic have only started.