The Cost Of Health Care : Germany

The Health Care Reform Act of 1988, the Health Sector Act of 1992, and the Act on the Reform of Self-Administration and Promotion of Personal Responsibility in the Statutory Health Care System of 1997 served to stablize expenditure on health services by the statutory health insurers. After the establishment of an efficient public health system in the new states, attention must be focused on solving the difficult and perennial problem of financing health services in a socially acceptable manner on a national scale.
In 1996 the statutory health insurers spent about DM235.3 billion on health services. Including administrative and other costs, health care expenditure for the year 1996 totaled DM 270 billion. As costs have risen, so have contributions: The contribution rate for persons insured through the statutory health insurance funds currently averages 1 3.39 percent.

Drugs And Medicines : Germany

The safety of medicines is accorded high priority in Germany. The Pharmaceuticals Act stipulates that medicines may be passed on to consumers only after their quality, effectiveness and harm-lessness have been tested in accordance with state marketing authorization procedure. Even after approval by the competent authorities, they are kept under constant observation for the consumers’ protection so that dangers are quickly recognized and remedial action can betaken.

The Pharmaceuticals Act also sets out detailed safety regulations for the production of pharmaceuticals, and it determines which substances may be sold only in pharmacies and which only on a doctor’s prescription. Ensuring the safety of blood products and overseeing the distribution of pharmaceuticals is the responsibility of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Berlin, the Paul Ehrlich Institute - Federal Agency Today, efforts to help achieve high health standards in the Member States are among the EU’s most important activities. Examples of these joint European activities are the health research program “Europe Against Cancer", an action program to combat drug abuse involving an exchange of information between detoxification centers, and cooperation on measures to combat AIDS, alcohol abuse and drug addiction.

Doctors And Hospitals : Germany

In 1996 there were about 2 79,000 doctors in Germany. Medically, therefore, the Germans are among the best cared-for nations in the world. Fewer than half of the nation’s doctors are in private practice. The others work in hospitals or administration or are engaged in research. Nearly 610,000 beds are available in more than 2,300 hospitals. There are also some 1,370 preventive care or rehabilitation centers. In addition to the 863 public hospitals there are 845 hospitals maintained by private non-profit organizations, 3 73 private hospitals and 244 other hospital facilities (such as purely day or night clinics).

Health : Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany has a ramified system of health care backed up by appropriate social services. Although health care is basically the individual’s own responsibility, it is also the concern of society as a whole. All people, regardless of their financial or social situation, should have the same chance to maintain or restore their health. Health care in Germany is a decentralized, pluralist and self-governing system.

Social Assistance : Germany

Social assistance is provided in the Federal Republic of Germany for people who cannot help themselves and receive no help from others. Under the Social Assistance Act, everybody living in Germany -native or foreign- is entitled to social assistance in times of hardship in the form of maintenance grants covering disability, illness or care. This assistance is provided by the municipalities. In 1996 social assistance expenditure totaled DM 53 billion.

War Victims’ Benefits (Social Indemnification) : Germany

The purpose of the war victims’ benefit scheme is to compensate, at least financially, the war-disabled, servicemen’s widows and war orphans. They are paid index-linked pensions. In addition, the war-disabled can receive therapy and support in starting work and a career. Members of the armed forces who suffer damage to their health and victims of violence, as well as their dependents, are taken care of in the same way. Social indemnification is also provided for certain other kinds of damage such as damage resulting from vaccinations.

Family Benefits : Germany

Since 1996, families have been able to choose between receiving a child benefit or a tax-free child allowance. The monthly child benefit for the first and second child is DM220 each; the monthly benefit for the third child is DM300 and DM350 for each additional child. The tax-free child allowance was DM6,912 in 1997. Since 1986, moreover, mothers and fathers have been entitled to a child-raising benefit for each child of DM 600 per month for a period of 24 months, provided their income does not exceed a certain amount. In addition, mothers or fathers wishing to look after their child themselves can claim up to three years child-raising leave from work during which they cannot be dismissed.