A shortage of doctors, long waiting times and services withheld for cost reasons are increasingly affecting people in Germany.
Nevertheless, 81 percent of them continue to rate the healthcare system positively, as stated in the 2022 health report by the Wiesloch-based financial services provider MLP.
According to the survey of more than 400 doctors and almost 1,100 citizens organized by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion, 89 percent of the doctors themselves hold health care in high esteem.
According to the survey, the shortage of doctors is particularly difficult for doctors and citizens.
Every third citizen is aware of the increasing bottlenecks, in East Germany even more than every second.
52 percent of the doctors in private practice also register a shortage of doctors.
The situation with specialist staff is similarly dramatic. According to the survey, more than every fifth practice is understaffed;
a quarter have vacancies.
There is also a shortage of nurses and other non-medical staff in the hospitals.
Nevertheless, 84 percent of physicians reject the entry of capital investors into the health care system;
mainly because they fear that economic considerations might play too big a role.
MLP CEO Uwe Schroeder-Wilberg called for serious future provision from the traffic light coalition.
"This also includes an open-ended discussion about the expenditure side, i.e. about what the state health system should still be able to do in the future and how these services can be organized and provided efficiently."