Poll Results: Nearly Half Express Dissatisfaction with Healthcare System
In the heart of Europe, Germany's healthcare system is facing a significant challenge. A recent survey by Forsa for health insurer Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has revealed a growing dissatisfaction among the population, with 47% of respondents expressing their discontent in July 2023 – a figure that has almost quintupled since 2021.
The primary sources of dissatisfaction are technological implementation problems, rising costs due to demographic changes, and systemic complexity. The e-prescription system, officially mandatory since January 2024, has caused significant disruptions and downtime, affecting tens of thousands of patients and frustrating pharmacists due to its unreliability. The public health insurance system faces strain from Germany's aging population, with projections suggesting that by 2050, one-third of the population will be over 60, leading to a sharp increase in insurance costs potentially requiring contributions of 25–32% of gross salary.
Healthcare in Germany remains complex and slow to adapt due to its decentralized and self-governing structure, limiting agility in adopting needed reforms and digital modernization. This complexity is further exacerbated by long waiting times for doctor's appointments, a concern raised by TK's CEO Jens Baas.
In an effort to address these issues, proposed reforms and cost-saving measures include the Hospital Future Act, which mandates that hospitals upgrade their information systems by 2027 to drive digital modernization, improve operational efficiency, and enhance patient care. Calls for improving the reliability and flexibility of the e-prescription system have also been made, with demands from pharmacists for the federal agency Gematik to stabilize the system and allow flexibility so patients can receive medications quickly during system downtimes.
To control drug costs, Germany employs measures like reference pricing, patient cost-sharing caps (currently at 2% of income), and reforms that have introduced manufacturer discounts and price moratoriums to reduce pharmaceutical expenses. The health insurers are advocating for immediate action to address the anticipated deficit, with some suggesting potential savings could come from reducing medication costs.
However, the health insurers' proposal does not include specific details on how the savings from medication costs would be achieved or a timeline for the fundamental reform of the German healthcare system. The health insurer, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), is advocating for a program to prevent contribution increases in the next year without reducing services.
Despite the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. In July 2023, 12% of the surveyed people were very or completely satisfied with the German healthcare system, and 40% expressed satisfaction. The health insurers anticipate a deficit of up to eight billion euros by 2026, and they urge politics to use the potential savings for a fundamental reform of the German healthcare system. As the nation navigates these complex issues, the focus remains on ensuring sustainability and improved care quality for all its citizens.
References:
- BBC News
- The Local
- Deutsche Welle
- Reuters
- The Guardian
- The growing dissatisfaction among Germans reveals a need for comprehensive improvements in their healthcare system, particularly addressing technological implementation issues like the e-prescription system.
- Recognizing the strain caused by demographic changes, some propose reforms to the public health insurance system, such as the Hospital Future Act, to drive digital modernization and enhance operational efficiency.
- Addressing the complexity of Germany's healthcare system, pharmacists call for stabilizing the e-prescription system and allowing flexibility during downtimes, advocating for the well-being of both patients and professionals involved in fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness, and mental-health therapies-and-treatments.
- To secure Medicare funding and address the anticipated deficit, health insurers suggest potential savings from medication costs could be used to fund wellness programs in the workplace-wellness sector, contributing to an overall improvement in patients' health.
