Resistance is growing within the Social Democrats (SPD) toward a government reform package pushed by the Union coalition, which mandates the abolition of telephone sick notes and requires a medical certificate from the first day of illness.
This move was heavily criticized by Steffen Krach, the SPD leader and candidate for the September election. Interviewed by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung,” Krach called the change “completely absurd,” stating that anyone in the Union who still possesses common sense needed to understand its implications.
According to Krach, the package claims to aim at reducing bureaucracy, yet he argued this initiative would instead place an overwhelming burden on the healthcare system. He noted this constituted a contradiction, especially when addressing Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who views the measure as a response to a perceived high rate of sickness across the country.
Krach asserted that local general practitioners are rightly outraged, and that the Union must urgently reconsider the policy. He maintained that no one familiar with the healthcare system considers this measure sensible, claiming it would only overburden doctor’s offices and make it harder for patients to secure timely treatment appointments.
It is reported that during negotiations, the Union initially sought to impose “Karenztage”-unpaid sick days-in order to increase pressure on employees. The SPD ultimately accepted the elimination of telephone sick notes and the requirement for medical certificates from day one as a compromise to block the introduction of unpaid days.
For context, telephone sick notes were first introduced in 2020 by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a temporary suspension, they were permanently reinstated in December 2023 under Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). The Union has also referenced alleged fraudulent practices, pointing to supposed foreign doctors who issued thousands of such sick notes.
