The primary‑care physician system that Health Minister Nina Warken has just authorised has received approval from the Association of General Practitioners, but its chairman Markus Beier has warned against relying on digital triage for patients.
“It’s encouraging that Minister Nina Warken has now launched the mandatory primary‑care model” Beier told the “Rheinische Post” on its Wednesday edition. “This reform contains enormous potential”. He added that the system depends on general‑practice doctors: “The success of a primary‑care system hinges on our GP practices”.
However, the association’s leadership notes growing divergence between insurers’ expectations and the concept of a primary‑care model. Beier critiqued the push for compulsory digital triage by insurers, describing it as “completely opposed to the idea of a primary‑care system”. He said insurers now try to make a mandatory online first‑contact platform the patients’ initial point of entry, noting that a “scheme‑F approach has nothing to do with primary care”. “Such a system would neither relieve the health system nor improve patient care” he warned.
“Primary‑care thrives on a strong, dependable bond between physician and patient. In our practices up to 90 % of all health problems are resolved” the general‑practice chair said. “No call centre can compete with that. The first point of contact should be the trusted GP office, which must remain the gold standard in outpatient care”.
