At this point in time, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has no understanding of the announcement by practicing doctors that they will go on strike after Christmas due to the heavy burden on many practices.
“The demands of the medical profession are known, they do not need to be presented again, so there is no need to strike now, especially when so many people are sick,” the SPD politician told broadcaster RBB. Now that one in ten people is sick and people need care, the already full practices should not close.
In protest against health policy, the Virchow Association of practicing doctors wants to keep thousands of practices closed between December 27th and 29th. Representatives should be appointed for urgent emergencies.
“We have to make a reform. That hasn’t worked for many years,” said Lauterbach. “We have too much bureaucracy in the practices. We’re working on that now.” For this purpose, the minister announced a crisis summit for January on Platform X on Wednesday. Proposals for a necessary reduction in bureaucracy and a fee reform have been prepared for months.
