The NAV-Virchow-Bund, or VirchowBund for short, is the professional association of German doctors in private practice that represents the interests of doctors in private practice and outpatient care in all specialist areas at federal and state level. This association demands that the economic stimulus packages that are being launched should also affect the health care system in terms of stabilisation and expansion, both in Germany and in Europe. The German health care system has considerable economic importance for our country, both in terms of the number of employees and in terms of gross value added, which is greater than that of the automotive industry, emphasises the Federal Chairman of the NAV-Virchow Association, Dirk Heinrich. During the Corona crisis it became apparent that, according to Heinrich, the outpatient sector acted as a protective wall for the inpatient sector, as six out of seven Sars-CoV-2 sufferers received outpatient care. Hospitals had suitably equipped intensive care capacities in sufficient numbers with specialists and respiration places to be prepared for emergencies. However, outpatient care was good enough to strengthen the clinics before an onslaught of Covid-19 patients. For this reason, Heinrich pleads for a nationwide expansion of GP and specialist practices, for a revival of nursing care and for strengthening the medical staff in specialist practices. Heinrich also has plans for hospitals and clinics. In his opinion, not all clinic locations can be maintained, so a restructuring of inpatient care would have to be undertaken. Smaller, inefficient hospitals could be converted into outpatient and short-term inpatient structures, and larger clinics that are located in necessary locations need to be supported by investments. The conversion of hospital structures could then enable the maximum level of care in Germany to be achieved.
