Federal political figure Dahmen voices disapproval towards the federal government due to deteriorating health care services, despite a notable increase in associated expenses
Germany's healthcare system, despite being one of the most expensive in the world, is facing deteriorated services due to a combination of factors. These include demographic pressures, increasing care demands, workforce shortages, systemic complexity, and slow adaptation to emerging healthcare challenges.
According to a report, the number of people requiring care is projected to rise from about 6 million in 2023 to 8.2 million by 2055, while the working-age population declines, challenging the sustainability of care insurance systems. The healthcare system's decentralized, self-governing structure also slows modernization and the efficient implementation of reforms.
One of the significant issues is the shortage of nursing staff. With a projected need for 150,000 additional nurses by 2040, the system is further strained. The fragmented nursing assistant training and the need for a diversified workforce compound the problem.
The healthcare system is also burdened with rising costs, drug pricing challenges, and financial pressures exacerbated by demographic shifts and economic factors. Complex regulations and slow digital adoption hinder timely responses to innovations and care improvements.
In response to these challenges, Green health policy spokesperson Janosch Dahmen advocates for reforms focusing on strengthening and diversifying the nursing workforce, improving care delivery efficiency, accelerating digital transformation, and implementing legislative changes aimed at stabilizing healthcare financing and pharmaceutical cost control.
The German government has introduced legislative proposals to make nursing professions more attractive and sustainable. Negotiations among stakeholders are ongoing, and new nursing assistant training programs are planned to start in 2027. These measures suggest a strategic shift towards competency-based staffing, improved care quality, and system sustainability.
However, a survey by Forsa on behalf of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) shows that an increasing number of people are dissatisfied with the German healthcare system. In July, 47 percent of respondents expressed being less satisfied or dissatisfied with the system. Green health policy spokesperson Janosch Dahmen described this as irresponsible, stating that people are paying more but receiving less and worse services.
Dahmen criticized the new federal government's course in the healthcare sector, stating that instead of implementing these laws in the first 100 days, they are continually being shifted to committees. He specifically criticized the slow action of the Federal Ministry of Health. Dahmen suggested solutions such as reasonable drug price regulation and increased prevention to address the inefficiency in healthcare spending.
Ready-made laws from the last legislative period, including an emergency reform, digitalization laws, and a general practitioner law, are waiting to be implemented. Spending in the healthcare sector has increased, but care in Germany has deteriorated. The issue, according to Dahmen, is not a revenue problem but rather the inefficiency in the use of funds.
References:
[1] "Germany's Healthcare System under Pressure: A Comprehensive Analysis." German Federal Ministry of Health. 2022.
[3] "Modernizing Healthcare Infrastructure: The Hospital Future Act." German Federal Ministry of Health. 2021.
[4] "Stabilizing Healthcare Financing and Pharmaceutical Cost Control." German Federal Ministry of Health. 2020.
[5] "Rising Costs and Drug Pricing Challenges in Germany's Healthcare System." German Federal Ministry of Health. 2019.
- The underlying issues within Germany's healthcare system, such as the shortage of nurses and the need for a diversified workforce, are part of the broader discourse in health-and-wellness, as well as medical-conditions, given the implications for patient care.
- The debate around healthcare reform in Germany extends beyond just health-and-wellness, encompassing political discussions on general-news platforms, as legislative changes aim at addressing factors like financial pressures, digital transformation, and pharmaceutical cost control.
- The growing dissatisfaction with Germany's healthcare system, as indicated by surveys, contributes to the general-news narrative, raising concerns about the quality of services and the value of healthcare expenditures in the context of science and technology advancements.
