German Family Doctors Demand Halt to Healthcare Reform, Citing 'Fiasco'

German family doctors are urgently calling for the government's healthcare reform plans to be stopped, labeling the proposed austerity law a "fiasco" that will significantly harm both practices and patients. The German Bundestag is scheduled to vote on the bill, intended to stabilize health insurance contributions by curbing rising costs.

Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth, chairwoman of the Association of General Practitioners, stated that if the law proceeds as planned, it will inevitably lead to a decline in accessible primary care across many regions. She warned of longer appointment waiting times and shorter consultation periods for patients. "The reform planned by the government will noticeably worsen the care of patients," Buhlinger-Göpfarth predicted, urging the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, to halt this "misguided course."

The government's proposed legislation aims to ease the financial burden on statutory health insurance funds in 2027 to prevent further premium increases. Key measures include spending caps for medical practices, hospitals, and pharmacies, along with higher co-payments for medications and restrictions on spousal co-insurance.

While the Bundestag is expected to pass the bill, its fate in the Bundesrat remains uncertain. The upper house has the power to block the new regulations, at least temporarily, by lodging an objection or referring the matter to a mediation committee.