Doctors fear worse health system

Survey shows general satisfaction - but grim predictions

04/02/2014

How satisfied is the German population with health care? This question was at the center of the new one „Health reports 2014“, conducted by the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy on behalf of the financial services provider MLP. According to this, 79% of citizens basically rate health care in this country as „Well“ or. „very well“ - despite clear fears and skepticism about future developments.

As reported by the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, people in this country are largely satisfied with their existing health care. For example, a representative survey of 2,088 men and women aged 16 years or older had been made for the „MLP Health Report 2014“ revealed that 79% of respondents considered the health system and health care as „Well“ or „very well“ (82% in 2012), while 18% rated them as „less well“ or. „not good at all“.

69% of the citizens are counting „Two-tier health care“
Despite the generally positive rating, there was also clear criticism and skepticism from the population. An important topic here: waiting times. According to MLP AG, more than half of the men and women surveyed (54%) complained about lengthy appointment appointments and too long stays in the waiting room (66%) - although the level of dissatisfaction among those with statutory health insurance (57%) was significantly higher than at privately insured (33%). The forecasts would also be far from being as positive for the financial services provider as the perceived status quo: 74% would assume that there would be rising contributions to statutory health insurance over the next ten years, and 69% of citizens would pay more more with one „Two-tier health care“ expected. In addition, there is the fear that in the future, health insurances would only pay for basic medical care (63%), physicians would have to spend less time on patients (61%) and would generally have to pay more for surgeries and medical visits (61%)..

Doctors fear even greater restrictions
But not only the citizens see with concern in the future, also among physicians are the MLP AG after fears and concern clearly present. The fourth physicians (24%) assume that health care will be within the next ten years „significantly worsen“ becomes. Here, the forecasts were even grim than among the citizens surveyed - so was the proportion of those who fear that they no longer have enough time for patients at 78 percent, 75% expect a two-tier medicine.

Worrying about financial difficulties in clinics
Nevertheless, the physicians also had the current system or health care by a large majority (90%) as „Well“ or. „very well“ rated. Also, the financial situation is currently considered by most clinicians (58%) as positive - here, however, according to the financial services provider, one in three had also reported difficulties, one in ten respondents even from very large problems. No wonder, then, that 71 percent of physicians assume that the situation will worsen over the next 10 years.

Clinicians want better „Work-life balance“
In the area „Work-life balance“ The health report revealed the dissatisfaction of many clinicians. According to the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, complaints about a lack of compatibility between private life and work are widespread, and every second doctor reported problems. The majority of physicians (61%) believe that the chances for a good work-life balance are better for private physicians; only one in five thinks there are better opportunities for a good work-life balance when working in a hospital.

Demand for more political commitment
In the light of the gloomy prognoses, according to the health report, respondents consider politics particularly in demand: 62 percent of the population and 79 percent of doctors demand more commitment in health policy - even though the concrete measures under the coalition agreement seem to be in favor of both groups bump. As reported by MLP AG, for example, 86% of respondents and 90% of physicians stated that it was to be welcomed that patients should in future have the right to seek a second specialist or hospital physician opinion before surgery at the expense of their health insurance. Nevertheless, according to the CEO of MLP, Uwe Schroeder-Wildberg still much catching up to do: „The debate on future quality in health care has not least been affected by the coalition agreement. But our results show that the population and doctors are expecting significantly more from the government in the beginning of the current legislature.“ (No)