Doctor Visit Fees Spark Debate: Balancing Healthcare Access and Financial Strain
Berlin, โGermany – October 7, 2025 – A proposed overhaul of germany’s healthcare system, allowing pharmacists to dispense certain prescriptionโฃ medications without aโค doctor’s prescription and possibly canceling โprescriptions for chronically ill patients, is igniting โa fierce debate overโข access to care and the โฃrole of medical professionals. The changes, announced by the ministry of Health, aim to streamline healthcare delivery but are facingโ strong โopposition โคfrom physician associations who warn of potentialโ risks to โpatient safety.
The coreโ of the controversy lies in a plan to empower pharmacies to independently sell specific prescription drugs for uncomplicated conditions like urinary tract infections. Simultaneously, the ministry intends toโ revoke prescriptions forโข patients with chronic illnesses requiring long-term medication, eliminating โคthe need for regular โฃdoctor’s visits. This move is intended โขto reduce bureaucratic hurdles and alleviate pressure on โthe medical system, but critics argueโฃ it could lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has voiced strong concerns, asserting that medicines should beโ prescribed by doctors who are โqualified to diagnose and treat underlying conditions, andโฃ that pharmacists lack the necessary training for such responsibilities. โ
The Ministry of Health defends โฃthe proposed changes, stating they โare โฃdesigned to address inefficiencies and improve access to essential medications.โ The plan specifically targets chronically ill patients with established, long-termโข prescriptions, suggesting these individuals wouldโฃ not be negativelyโฃ impacted by the cancellation of โคroutine appointments.however, theโ Associationโ of statutory health insurance physicians warns that such an approach “can endanger people’sโข lifeโ and life,” emphasizing the critical role of a physician’s diagnosis in determining appropriate treatment.