General practitioners launch nationwide protest campaign against coalition's austerity package

Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth sharply criticized the plans. "The intended cuts are completely unplanned and indiscriminate. This is like chopping at the root of general medical care without regard for the consequences," she warned. She fears fewer practices, poorer care, and longer waiting times for patients as a result.

Criticism of Cuts in Detail

A prepared text for the email campaign states: "My practice is already working constantly at its limit. The situation will further worsen due to the now planned cuts." Patients can send this wording to their representatives in the Bundestag.

The draft provides for spending brakes for doctor's offices, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry. Higher co-payments for medications and restrictions on the contribution-free co-insurance of spouses are also planned. The abolition of additional remuneration for organ donation counseling and a partial reversal of the recently lifted fee caps for general practitioners are also met with criticism.

Even before the first reading in the Bundestag and Bundesrat, scheduled for June 12, several committees of the Bundesrat have raised extensive points of criticism. Among other things, they are calling for the deletion of several spending brakes for clinics, practices, pharmacies, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Resistance from the States

The lead Health Committee warned: "The austerity measures must not lead to a wave of clinic closures and result in a cold and uncontrolled structural adjustment." 4.6 billion euros are to be saved in the hospital sector. The states see this as a high risk of insolvency and a disproportionately high burden on clinics.

Plans whereby wage increases above a certain threshold are to be reimbursed by health insurers only half instead of fully are also being criticized. A planned cap on nursing budgets and a reduction in fixed subsidies for dental prosthetics from 60 to 50 percent are also being rejected. The states refer to general cost increases, for example, in laboratory services.

Furthermore, Bundesrat committees reject regulations on higher price reductions that pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers would have to grant to health insurers. They also call for greater consideration of Germany as a location for production and research.

Patient Advocates Demand Dialogue

Patient advocates are also getting involved in the debate. Eugen Brysch, a board member of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, said: "Nina Warken must finally recognize that social laws, in particular, are not made in academic circles. It is important to involve at least the government factions."

The bill does not require the approval of the Bundesrat, but it could be delayed there. What is clear is that resistance to the plan is growing – not only from the medical profession but also from the states and patient advocates.

For 2027, the draft also provides for an additional increase in the contribution assessment ceiling. The campaign by the Association of General Practitioners aims to draw attention to the fact that the planned savings, according to many affected parties, endanger local healthcare provision.