Doctors prescribe more remedies than before

The proportion of prescribed remedies increased significantly in the first half of 2010. Physiotherapy was most often prescribed.

The prescription of remedies has increased significantly in the first half of this year. Remedies are health services such as physiotherapy, ergotherpy or speech therapy.

According to the legal Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Germany's doctors prescribed remedies worth a total of around 2.2 billion euros to patients in the first half of the year. This represents a year-on-year increase of eight percent. The fund is based in their statements on evaluations of the health insurance central association GKV.

In the first half of 2010, on average, every legally insured person was prescribed remedies worth 31 euros. Most remedies were prescribed in the cities of Hamburg, Berlin and in the federal state of Saxony. Here the per capita average was around 40 euros. The lowest value reached the region Westphalia-Lippe, here the average value was only 23 Euro.

Statistically speaking, the value of a curative treatment was around 170 euros. Physiotherapy was most often prescribed. Such gymnastics is usually prescribed for back pain. The individual value was around 632 Euro per treatment. This is followed by occupational therapy at a greater distance. In this form of therapy people are supported in the learning of everyday actions and problems. The offer is aimed at both children and adults. However, the number of children is significantly higher. The total cost of this treatment was estimated by the GKV-Verband at 198 million euros. Speech therapy hit a total of 171 million.

Already in October, the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) agreed to increase the budget in the field of medicines and remedies. According to this, the new budget will increase the annual budget of physicians and prescribers for prescribing medicines and remedies from 2011 by 60 million euros each. (19.11.2010, sb)

Also read:
Back pain exercises