Medical expenses, such as doctor's visits, should be partially borne by patients, according to Streeck.
In a bid to enhance the management of processes within German health, virologist and CDU member Hendrik Streeck has proposed a plan emphasizing the need for better resource management and assurance of necessary services for all. Streeck's proposal, gaining traction, is centered around the principle of 'slim and fair' in German health. The goal is to ensure a sustainable health system that caters to everyone's needs without compromising quality.
The severity of the situation in German health is underscored by health insurers falling short by around six billion euros last year. If current trends persist, health contributors may face contributions exceeding 20 percent, a significant increase from the current 17 percent rate.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, another CDU member, has also expressed concerns, urging Germans to reduce frequent health checks and advocating for better incentives to conserve resources. He believes the high rate of frequent health checks in Germany may be unsustainable for the health system.
Streeck's proposal includes implementing a moderate, socially balanced self-payment scheme in German health. He suggests this could encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce trivial visits, such as for minor ailments, by discouraging immediate demand for 'the full range of high-tech diagnostics'.
Merz also supports this idea, but both Streeck and Merz stress that any changes must be fair and balanced, ensuring everyone, regardless of financial situation, has access to necessary health services.
The current German Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken, is driving changes in health, aligning with Streeck's goals. She hasn't commented specifically on Streeck's proposal but focuses on improving health processes and resource management.
Germany's average of about ten annual doctor visits per person is a 'dubious European record', according to Streeck. He believes moving away from an 'unsolidaric full-coverage mindset' in German health is necessary for the system's sustainability.
As the debate continues, it's clear a shift in mindset regarding German health is necessary to ensure its sustainability and provision of necessary services for all. Both Streeck and Merz's proposals aim to achieve this, focusing on resource conservation, self-payment, and a shift towards a more balanced health system.
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