Majority Expresses Dissatisfaction with the Healthcare System, According to a Poll
The German healthcare system is facing growing dissatisfaction, according to a survey conducted by Forsa on behalf of health insurer Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) and released in July 2023.
In the survey, Jens Baas, TK's CEO, commented that more people feel they're not getting adequate value for their increasingly high contributions. The key factors contributing to this increasing dissatisfaction include limited access to preventative and mental healthcare, perceived systemic unfairness, job-related stress and dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals, and issues related to management and integration of staff, especially nursing personnel.
The survey did not specify the number of respondents or the methodology used. However, it revealed that 40% of respondents were satisfied with the German healthcare system, while 47% expressed less satisfaction or dissatisfaction, and a smaller percentage, 12%, expressed very satisfaction.
One of the main concerns is long wait times for doctor's appointments, which Baas identified as a significant source of dissatisfaction. Another area of potential savings is medication costs.
The health insurers believe that a reform would require time, and thus, preventing contribution increases in the next year without cutting services could provide this time. They are calling for an immediate program to address these issues.
It is unclear from the provided information if this survey is representative of the general population or if the survey results have been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal.
The deficit in the German healthcare system is expected to reach up to eight billion euros by 2026, suggesting a need for a fundamental reform. The health insurers did not specify the number of people surveyed in January 2023, when 30% of people reported less or no satisfaction with the German healthcare system.
References: [1] Workforce challenges in the German healthcare system [2] Access and fairness issues in the German healthcare system [3] Physician dissatisfaction in the German healthcare system [4] Chronic disease and care pathways in the German healthcare system
- Despite the German healthcare system facing growing dissatisfaction, there's a projected need for a fundamental scientific reform to address the deficit expected to reach up to eight billion euros by 2026.
- The key factors contributing to this increasing dissatisfaction include limited access to preventative and mental healthcare, a concern that aligns with research in the field of medical-conditions, particularly in the context of health-and-wellness.
