Berlin. Following sharp criticism from general practitioners, Andreas Gassen, chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), has also condemned Health Minister Nina Warken's (CDU) austerity plans, warning they could collapse Germany's primary care system.
German doctors slam health minister's cost-cutting as 'wrecking ball' for primary care
In an interview with the Rheinische Post (Friday), Gassen stated: "I simply cannot fathom how a functional primary care system is supposed to work given the savings measures Health Minister Nina Warken has proposed for statutory health insurance."
He added: "Every existing financial incentive for family doctors to manage patient care effectively is set to be eliminated. At the same time, there is no political will to introduce binding obligations for patients. How can policymakers seriously expect general practitioners to take on even more work for even less pay?"
Earlier, the Association of General Practitioners had dismissed Warken's cost-cutting plans as "utterly clueless" and a "wrecking ball for family practices," declaring that a viable primary care system could not be built under such conditions.
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