Concerns are mounting in Germany regarding potential restrictions on medical treatments for older adults, sparking debate within the healthcare sector. Andreas Gassen, chairman of the Federal Association of Statutory Health Physicians (KBV), has cautioned against plans to limit services, specifically citing proposals to restrict hip replacement surgeries for individuals over the age of 80. He warned that such measures echo a problematic British precedent and are neither necessary nor effective, emphasizing the principle of solidarity within the statutory health insurance system.
The debate follows earlier suggestions from Thomas Lemke, CEO of the Sana Hospitals group, who questioned the provision of certain services for seniors aged 80 and above.
Gassen, in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” suggested focusing cost-saving measures elsewhere. He pinpointed hospitals as a significant driver of expenses, noting daily costs nearing €300 million and rapidly rising medication costs as key areas for reform. He advocated for a reduction in the number of hospitals, arguing it would strengthen the remaining facilities and generate substantial cost savings.
Addressing the increasing burden on statutory health insurance contributions, Gassen proposed several additional reform strategies. These include ensuring the healthcare costs of individuals receiving citizen’s income are appropriately funded through tax revenues, as well as exploring patient management strategies and considering intelligently designed, socially balanced models of patient co-payments. The aim, according to Gassen, is to manage escalating costs and maintain a sustainable healthcare system for all citizens.
