A new report from the Stiftung Kindergesundheit (Children’s Health Foundation), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin (German Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine), has delivered a stark critique of Germany’s adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child within its healthcare system. The “Children’s Health Report 2025” released Tuesday, highlights a significant disconnect between legal mandates and the lived experience of young patients, raising critical questions about the prioritization of children’s voices in medical decision-making.
A recent Forsa survey, commissioned by the Stiftung, revealed a troubling reality: 30% of young patients report having minimal input during doctor’s visits, despite 55% expressing a desire for greater influence. This lack of agency, according to leading pediatrician and Stiftung Kindergesundheit board member Berthold Koletzko, isn’t a mere oversight but a fundamental impediment to a fair and effective healthcare system. “Genuine participation of children is not optional; it’s a prerequisite for equitable healthcare” Koletzko stated, underscoring the ethical implications of current practices.
Beyond challenging the participatory element, the report paints a picture of a strained healthcare infrastructure struggling to meet the specific needs of children and adolescents. Staff shortages, misaligned training programs and uneven provision of both inpatient and outpatient care are identified as major concerns. The report explicitly blames political policy for creating shortages in essential medications and medical devices, leading to systemic inequalities in health and participatory opportunities.
The Stiftung Kindergesundheit and the DGKJ contend that structural barriers within the healthcare system actively impede child-friendly care and that existing funding models fail to adequately account for the unique requirements of young patients. This is particularly relevant as Germany navigates significant healthcare reform, including a proposed overhaul of its hospital system.
“Children and adolescents must be afforded the prominence they deserve in political decision-making and legislative processes, such as the ongoing hospital reform” declared Burkhard Rodeck, General Secretary of the DGKJ, emphasizing the need for policymakers to actively incorporate the perspectives of young people into the design of future healthcare strategies. The report serves as a direct call for a fundamental shift in how children’s health is prioritized and integrated into German healthcare policy.
