Primary doctor system in Germany: Getting to specialist appointments faster?

Primary doctor system in Germany: Getting to specialist appointments faster?

There is currently a heated discussion in Germany about the introduction of a primary doctor system that is intended to improve the management of patients and the allocation of specialist appointments. How stern.de reported, in this new system, patients must first consult a designated family doctor, who will then refer them to specialists if necessary. The aim is to avoid unnecessary visits to the doctor and direct patients to the right specialists more quickly.

However, the Hesse Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) is skeptical about the project. Armin Beck, board member for general practitioners, emphasizes that most patients are able to decide for themselves which doctor they want to see. Frank Dastych, board member for specialists, also argues that Germany has the shortest waiting times for specialist appointments compared to other countries, which is why such control is not necessary. There are still numerous open questions, so the KV does not want to make a final decision.

Collaboration between general practitioners and specialists

In contrast, the Hesse General Practitioners Association is positive about the idea of ​​a controlled system. Christian Sommerbrodt, the chairman, sees a solution in the stronger networking of general practitioners' practices. A practical example makes this clear: Headaches can have various underlying causes, which is why “pre-filtering” by general practitioners is considered useful. The Hesse State Medical Association also welcomes the idea as an opportunity for better patient care, but calls for individual needs to be taken into account and a rejection of rigid referral paths.

In addition, the new federal government supports the introduction of the primary doctor system, such as apotheken-umschau.de reported. One focus is on connecting patients to a specialist more quickly and thereby reducing long waiting times. Over 10 million people are already taking part in the “family doctor-centered care” program, which follows similar approaches. A mandatory primary doctor should be assigned to the patient for one year, with some exceptions for certain specialist visits.

Criticism and possible challenges

Nevertheless, there are also critical voices. The German Foundation for Patient Protection warns of possible overloading of general practitioners' practices. Accident doctors also fear that acute injuries or emergencies could be delayed by the system. The umbrella association of specialists also demands that patients with certain illnesses be allowed to go directly to specialists without first having to go through a general practitioner.

A traffic light system to indicate the urgency of appointments is also being discussed. How sueddeutsche.de reports, the primary doctor system is currently being intensively discussed between politicians and associations. The idea is that family doctors become the first point of contact for patients in order to make a targeted decision about further specialist visits. While some, such as general practitioner Michael Seidl from Scheyern, are already successfully implementing the system, there is general speculation as to whether it can actually lead to quicker appointments with specialists.