AOK practice closures in major cities demanded

AOK boss: calls for practice closures in major cities

11/11/2014

The head of the AOK Federal Association, Jürgen Graalmann, has demanded in view of new figures on the oversupply of specialist practices in Germany, to significantly reduce the number of doctors in large cities. Practices could be closed, especially at the orthopedic surgeons, without endangering care.

Oversupply with specialized medical practices
Even though the problem of the shortage of doctors in rural regions has repeatedly been reported in recent months: Obviously there are far too many medical practices in Germany. And this especially in metropolitan areas, at least in the opinion of health insurance companies. The chairman of the board of the AOK Federal Association, Jürgen Graalmann, has now demanded, according to a message from the news agency AFP in view of new figures on oversupply with specialist medical practices in Germany, to significantly reduce the number of doctors in large cities.

25,000 practices could be affected
Across from „image“ said the AOK boss: „A good infrastructure or additional income from private services are often criteria for the establishment of doctors.“ That's why there are too many specialists, especially in urban centers. „These reserves must go“, so Graalmann. The cashier's boss responded to warnings from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV). This had predicted that 25,000 practices would have to close when doctor's offices - as planned by Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) - are bought in over-supplied areas.

Excessive care with orthopedists
According to surveys by the AOK, there is no area in Germany alone for the orthopedic surgeons that would not be oversupplied. Nationwide, one in four, in Bavaria even every third orthopedic surgery could close, without the supply would be endangered. According to the KBV, North Rhine-Westphalia would be particularly affected with 5,300 and Bavaria with 4,859 allegedly absent doctor's offices. The KBV also points out - to increase the political pressure - how strongly the constituencies of leading health policy makers would be affected. For example, in Neuss, the home of Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe (CDU), arithmetically 44 doctor's offices would have to be dismantled. It would also be 44 in the district of Steinfurt, the constituency of the CDU health expert Jens Spahn.

„Nobody wants to break down thousands of doctor's offices“
Spahn responded immediately and said loudly „world“: „I advise to disarmament. Nobody wants to break down thousands of doctor's offices.“ A spokesman for the GKV said: „It is absurd how the KBV tries to spread panic.“ It was in the interest of the contributors to reduce unnecessary medical seats. Only a few months ago, a representative survey of the KBV and the NAV-Virchow-Bund revealed that a quarter of GPs and GPs in Germany will give up their practice in the next five years. As a result of this, there could be gaps in supply, especially in rural areas, by the year 2020. (Ad)