Midwives Open letter to the Minister of Health

Midwives: Open letter to the Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler.

In an open letter, Susanne Schäfer, chairman of the Federation of Freelance Midwives Germany BfHD, has turned to the Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler (FDP). In her letter Schäfer complains about the result of the fee negotiations for the registered physicians of October 5.

As in a press release of the initiative now published „Midwives for Germany“ became known, the midwives criticize the outcome of negotiations between the central association of the legal
Health Insurance (GKV) and the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV). According to this, each of the 150 000 health professionals should get nearly 6700 euros more annually.

The doctors' fees already increased by 6.1% in 2009, while the liability premiums for midwives had risen massively and three months ago by the SHI with the help of mediators „Minimal elevations“ and „ridiculous amounts“ (Midwives for Germany) had been offered. The established physicians are now to get over one billion euros, while for the 19,000 midwives in Germany annually 360 million were available.

Schäfer points out that these figures show the importance of midwifery care for those responsible for health policy and warns that this profession could slowly become extinct.
Already in July of this year it became public that the liability premiums for midwives, the document beds have and freelance midwives in Germany by 200 per cent freelance midwives in Germany by 200 per cent prospects for obstetrics? were. Shepherd says that even now an independent midwife would on average pay the first twelve births a year free of charge to pay these higher premiums. (tf, 18.10.2010)

Read on this topic:
Midwives: No obstetric perspective?