Struggling finances among pediatricians due to decreasing number of young patients, raising worries of bankruptcy.
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more than a third of pediatricians in Germany are feeling the threat to their economic existence, according to recent reports. This worrying trend has led to many pediatricians considering reductions in staff and hours, with 52% contemplating staff cuts and 84% considering reducing their working hours.
The federal government's "shield" program, established in 2020 to help pediatricians, is set to expire at the end of March. This program has provided crucial support during the pandemic, but its less extensive extension is currently being discussed.
The decrease in patient visits, resulting in income reductions due to lower service volumes, has been a significant challenge for many outpatient pediatricians in Germany. To address this, German health authorities have implemented compensation payments and financial protections for ambulatory care providers, including pediatricians, to stabilize practice revenue.
However, the number of vaccinations and preventive examinations in pediatrician practices decreased by 26.2% and 14.2% respectively in January 2021 compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to the pandemic and has further strained the financial situation of pediatricians in Germany, who are not generously paid to begin with.
The BVKJ President, Thomas Fischbach, wrote a letter to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, seeking help to prevent more practice closures among pediatricians. He emphasized the importance of maintaining accessible and financially viable pediatric services, particularly in these challenging times.
Looking ahead, future measures are being considered to support pediatricians. These include improving communication and trust between healthcare providers and patients, adopting digital health tools, and investing in healthcare infrastructure resilience. By doing so, it is hoped that pediatric care will remain accessible and financially viable, helping pediatricians recover patient contacts and incomes.
Despite these efforts, no recent direct data or programs specific to Germany’s pediatricians' income support beyond broad pandemic-related healthcare measures were found. For precise current policies, consulting official German health ministry or Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians) communications would be necessary.
[1] Improving pediatricians' training and consistent adherence to vaccination guidelines can reduce parental vaccine hesitancy, which was exacerbated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
[2] Digital tools and localized outreach strategies, such as mobile clinics and telehealth platforms, are promising for enhancing pediatric care access and utilization in Germany.
[3] Strengthening global and national health system preparedness, including subsidizing testing and vaccination for pediatric populations and ongoing genomic surveillance, helps maintain stable outpatient care demand and prevents future shutdowns or restrictions that adversely affect pediatricians’ incomes.
[4] Source: Various health and economic reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on pediatric care in Germany.
- The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to more than a third of pediatricians in Germany feeling a threat to their economic existence, with many contemplating reductions in staff and hours.
- To address the financial challenges faced by outpatient pediatricians, German health authorities have implemented compensation payments and financial protections for ambulatory care providers.
- Despite these measures, the decline in patient visits and preventive examinations during the pandemic has strained the financial situation of German pediatricians.
- In a bid to prevent more practice closures among pediatricians, the BVKJ President, Thomas Fischbach, wrote a letter to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn seeking help to maintain accessible and financially viable pediatric services.
- Future measures being considered to support pediatricians include improving communication and trust between healthcare providers and patients, adopting digital health tools, and investing in healthcare infrastructure resilience.
- By strengthening global and national health system preparedness, including subsidizing testing and vaccination for pediatric populations, it is hoped that pediatric care will remain accessible and financially viable.
- Improving pediatricians' training and consistency in vaccination guidelines can help reduce parental vaccine hesitancy, which was exacerbated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
