Andreas Gassen, head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), has rejected the plan for partial sick leave proposed by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU). Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Gassen described the measure as “an absurd approach” arguing that it contradicts the goal of de-bureaucratization. He pointed out that assessing partial incapacity would require doctors to generate detailed expert opinions and examine various aspects of a patient’s working situation, suggesting this level of detail would be difficult to manage. Furthermore, he criticized the proposal, noting that it would be implemented even as compensation across the board is being reduced, calling the entire policy a “bad joke”.
Instead, Gassen restated the KBV’s core requirement: the expansion of mandatory waiting days. He reminded the public of their proposal to delay the requirement for a sick leave certificate until the fourth working day. According to Gassen, implementing this change alone could save an estimated 300 million euros annually, which he hailed as genuine progress toward administrative simplification.
The controversial proposal introduced in Warken’s draft legislation (§44c) would allow physicians to determine a partial incapacity ranging from 25%, 50%, or 75% of the patient’s standard weekly working hours. This measure, Gassen noted, already exists in Sweden.
