Health insurance There is no shortage of doctors

Health insurance companies: There is no shortage of doctors now and in the future.

(06.09.2010) According to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) there is currently no shortage of doctors in Germany. Thus, the GKV-Spitzenverband contradicts the current representations and figures of the German Medical Association (BÄK) and the Kassen-Ärztlichen Bundesvereinigung (KBV). Both associations had warned at the weekend that there could be around 7,000 fewer GPs in 2020. The shortage of doctors will be extremely noticeable, especially in rural areas. "If one compares the expected number of departures with the expected additions by the year 2020, then there will be just under 7,000 family doctors in Germany less than in the past, which is alarming. Andreas Köhler, CEO of KBV.

The health insurance association, however, sees no shortage of physicians. "We have more specialists than enough and there is no serious indication that this would change in the foreseeable future," said Johann-Magnus von Stackelberg, vice-chairman of the GKV-Spitzenverbands. Von Stackelberg sees the figures presented as an attempt by physicians to create a mood to "enforce billions of dollars in fee increases year after year". However, as the health insurance vice-director admits, there could be future problems in the countryside if something is not done on time. In some rural areas, family physicians are already missing. "Therefore, we demand that all doctors in the future may only settle in regions where there is a real need," said the vice vice.

The Kassen-Ärztliche Vereinigung and the German Medical Association had warned in a joint statement on Friday that the number of doctors in the next ten years would decrease by 7,000 physicians, if not controlled in time against. In some specialist areas - especially in eye, women, skin and nerve doctors - and in the hospitals doctors would increasingly be missing, said the associations. Based on the figures presented, it can be seen that fewer and fewer physicians occupy the posts of doctors leaving the age group. That is the case especially in the countryside. Already there are 5,000 unoccupied doctor's offices in hospitals.

Among other things, the two associations are responsible for the deteriorating working conditions. Because many doctors would migrate abroad. In 2009 alone, 2,486 German doctors emigrated. Currently, around 17,000 German doctors work abroad. „These doctors are missing here. That's why we have to make sure that working conditions for doctors in Germany become more attractive“, said Köhler. (Sb)

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