Doctors and dentists warn that healthcare is becoming increasingly commercialized to the detriment of patients.

A particular point of criticism applies to the advance of outpatient facilities operated by holding companies.

According to an as yet unpublished study by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV), these "investor-supported medical care centers" (iMVZ) are responsible for overprovision and incorrect care, unreasonable economic pressure on young doctors in particular, and the neglect of rural areas and patients with special needs, for example of those in need of care and the disabled.

"The iMVZ poses considerable risks for quality, patient well-being and for ensuring comprehensive contractual dental, but also medical care,"

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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According to him, more and more financial investors are buying up clinics with the right to found care centers and are thus penetrating the outpatient market.

Almost a third of the dental care centers already belong to the iMVZ.

Out of interest in returns, they concentrated on conurbations with above-average incomes and were primarily concerned with high-yield treatments (performance picking).

Request for public register

"Through the formation of chains, monopoly-like structures with a dominant position are sought and intact supply structures are destroyed," says Eßer.

He called on the federal government to limit the eligibility of hospitals for the centers according to spatial and professional criteria.

A public register of all centers and an obligation to identify the sponsorship on the practice sign and on the Internet are urgently needed

Previously, the associations of statutory health insurance physicians, the medical associations and medical associations had expressed their concerns about overly trade-oriented care.

In late May, the Doctors' Day called on lawmakers to "stop the ongoing buyout of the outpatient medical sector by private equity and publicly traded companies."

Cash contributions are increasingly being paid to shareholders, and there is no guarantee that profits will be taxed in Germany.

A study by the IGES Institute in April came to the conclusion that the centers billed significantly more than individual practices.

In Bavaria, they account for almost every tenth treatment case, and one in ten centers is run by financial investors.

MVZ billed a 5.7 percent higher fee volume per doctor group case than individual practices, iMVZ even 10.4 percent.

The legislator's goal of restricting access by financial investors has so far been missed.

Politicians are working on the issue.

In November, the Health Ministers' Conference expressed its "growing concern" about monopolies and the "related threats to the quality, integrity and security" of care.

A labeling requirement, registration and approval restrictions are necessary.