In the ongoing debate surrounding sick leave documentation, former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is advocating for a guaranteed appointment time with doctors. Speaking to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, the SPD politician stated, “Sick note issuance from the first day is part of a broader package. We shouldn’t only decide on service deteriorations; there must also be improvements.” He recalled that the coalition had previously agreed upon improvements, including a guaranteed appointment with doctors and a precautionary law. Lauterbach, who now chairs the research committee in the Bundestag, insisted that this compromise had been presented within the party group and must therefore be implemented simultaneously. Previously, Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) had urged the Union to enter into discussions regarding waiving the controversial rule requiring a certificate from the first day of illness, but met with strong opposition from the Union.
Politics
