Warning about system change in the healthcare system

The social organizations SoVD and Volkssolidarität warn against radical system changes in the health system.

(08.06.2010) The social organizations SoVD and Volkssolidarität warn against a "radical system change in the health system". SoVd and Volkandsolidarität warn the federal government before the introduction of a capitation and the accompanying radical change of system from solidarity-funded health insurance to an anti-social privatization of health care costs. This would turn the welfare state rule in question and the proven solidarity principle on its head. It would also be a clear disregard for the majority will of citizens who are in favor of maintaining and strengthening a solidarity health insurance system
have pronounced.

The goal must rather be to strengthen and develop social health insurance. The fact that statutory health insurance is an indispensable part of the welfare state is evidenced by a scientific report on the social value and the possibilities for the further development of solidarity health insurance, which have been commissioned by SoVD and Volkssolidarität.

In this study, the renowned health scientist Professor dr. Dr. Thomas Gerlinger the central importance of social health insurance for our society unmistakably. "It is an important cornerstone of the welfare state and contributes significantly to social balance in society and to social cohesion," it said in the drafting. Against this background, another result of the study, which reveals clear contours of a system change in health policy in the coalition agreement, is deeply worrying.

In addition, the report shows that patients and insured persons have for many years been bearing an increasing share of the costs and risks of health care, eg. B. by tightened co-payment rules and special contributions. At the same time, insured persons are burdened by a two-class medicine, which has arisen through the coexistence of statutory and private health insurance. In particular, this increases the tendency towards desolidarization.

SoVD and Volkssolidarität call for a solidary development of health care, in which the interests of patients and insured persons are the focus. This requires strengthening the revenue side. It is important to overcome the separation between statutory and private health insurance, to restore the equality of funding for health care costs and to introduce long-term solidarity citizens' insurance. In addition, SoVD and popular solidarity consider measures on the expenditure side to be urgent. Both associations are in favor of using the potential available in the system - especially in the area of ​​pharmaceuticals. To better care for patients, double structures must be avoided and prevention and rehabilitation strengthened. (Pm)