Again, a survey divides representatives of doctors and insurance companies. This time the shortage of doctors, which already has been discussed on a number of occasions, is the bone of contention. The catalyst is the result of the current TNS Infratest survey (ordered by Barmer GEK and Bertelsmann Stiftung) regarding patients experiences when accessing out-patient care. Results of the survey are surprising: The often discussed shortage of doctors has not been noticed by Germans so far. On the contrary, with regards to „number of doctors and their accessibility – in the cities and in the countryside“ 90% of all people surveyed were satisified. With regards to specialist doctors satisfaction is slightly lower. But here too, only 15% of all people surveyed are not satisfied with the number of specialist doctors and their accessibility.
Scheduling problems seem to be uncommon as well. Proportion of discontent patients is 6% with regards to family doctors and 11% with regards to specialist doctors. Again, no significant differences between city and countryside can be noticed, Brigitte Mohn, board member of Bertelsmann Stiftung, points out. However, in the countryside one in three persons thinks that in the future there will be fewer specialist doctors available in their respective region. Furthermore, the survey reveals that the farther away a doctor is located the less satisfied the patient is. Dr. Christoph Straub, CEO of Barmer GEK, understands this as a sign of confidence in out-patient care. He advises against „too much drama“ within the context of the current discussion.
Surprisingly, the rural population is complaining very little. Several doctors‘ organizations have lamented about insufficient availability of medical care in the countryside. They have warned against a worsening of the situation. Therefore, Dr. Andreas Köhler, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung – KBV), commented on the reporting and countered with numbers: Until 2020 approx. 66,830 private practioners will retire. He who questions the upcoming shortage of doctors is misjudging the situation, Köhler says. Frank Ulrich Monzgomery, president of the doctors‘ association, has spotted a personnel shortage as well: Due to demographic development of the medical fraternity and low birth rates there will be approx. 7,000 family doctors less in practice by 2020.
However, figures from the medical fraternity will not impress the CEO of Barmer GEK. He is convinced that Germany does not suffer a shortage of doctors but faces a problem of allocating them properly. The number of private practioners increased by 30% in the past few years. Furthermore, the frequency of visiting a doctor in Germany is the highest in the world. In order to better control allocation he advocates for an adjustment of fees based on physician density. In his view, practice of medicine in oversupplied metropolitan regions should be paid less than in undersupplied remote regions.
The newly inflamed discussion will spread into other healthcare areas. Eventually, a shortage of skilled workers is foreseeable for subareas like nursing as well. It will start in the countryside and with outpatient nursig services. Not till then it will be noticable in the inpatient sector. And homecare suppliers will be affected as well as medical supply stores.