The supply gap in German healthcare – figures, facts and possible solutions.

The supply gap in German healthcare – figures, facts and possible solutions.

According to a report from www.mdr.de,

Many people in Germany live without health insurance, including undocumented immigrants, EU citizens and precariously employed Germans. Medical care for these groups is often inadequate because many do not seek government support for fear of deportation. This means that they do not seek medical help in acute emergencies and as a result, illnesses are often more advanced than necessary. The voluntary medical offices in Germany that offer medical care are therefore working on political solutions and are committed to better care for those affected.

Based on the figures from the last microcensus from 2019, there are around 61,000 people in Germany without health insurance, although it is assumed that the number of unreported cases is much higher. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic may also have contributed to an increase in the number of people without health insurance. Undocumented immigrants who do not even have access to basic medical care are particularly affected.

The effects on the market and the industry are complex. On the one hand, caring for people without health insurance places a financial, professional and time burden on the voluntary medical offices and their voluntary employees. This ties up resources that could also be used elsewhere. In addition, there are additional costs for the medical care of these people, which often have to be financed through donations.

The healthcare industry is also impacted by inadequate care for these populations. Medical treatment, especially for undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, is made difficult by bureaucratic hurdles and the lack of government support options. This leads to unequal and often inadequate medical care.

There is also a divide between people with and without health insurance, which can lead to social problems in the long term. There is a need to take government measures to ensure health care for all people in Germany and to reduce discriminatory barriers. The establishment of clearing centers and anonymous treatment certificates, such as those that exist in Leipzig and Thuringia, could be an important step in this direction.

Dr. Thomas Heuchel, an infectious disease specialist from Chemnitz, criticizes the way the administrative apparatus deals with asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. He emphasizes that health is a human right that is violated at many points in the asylum process. The situation also clearly shows that care for people without health insurance financed exclusively through donations has financial, professional and time limits.

The demand by organizations for the federal government to take measures to ensure better health care for all people in Germany is an important step towards correcting the deficiencies in medical care for people without health insurance. Only through government solutions can the care situation be improved in the long term and humane access to medical care guaranteed for everyone.