It is to the protection and well-being of citizens of Germany that medicine in Germany is directed. Reforms are ongoing in this area. Therefore, the strategic development of healthcare and social infrastructure matters. Patients from all over the world are attracted to well-developed medicine in Germany. Having briefly studied it, many seek to come to Germany precisely to receive high-quality and qualified medical care.
What does the healthcare system in Germany look like?
Medicine in Germany is considered one of the best in the world. Its distinguishing features are:
- availability of highly qualified doctors;
- use of the latest equipment;
- arrangement of German clinics ;
- application of innovations in treatment, rehabilitation and diagnostics.
The following institutions are especially known worldwide:
- Hamburg Institute of Bernhard Noht. He specializes in the study, diagnosis and treatment of tropical ailments.
- German Cardiology Center in Berlin. He specializes in heart and lung transplantation, and treatment of the cardiovascular system.
- Cardiology Center North Rhine-Westphalia. This includes 4 clinics, 3 institutes, a number of internal services. Together, they successfully fight against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and its complications.
- Diagnostic Clinic in Wiesbaden.
- Dermatological clinic at the University of Munich.
- Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Cologne.
According to statistics in Germany, the entire population is covered by insurance:
- 90% of the population - state;
- 8% of people are private;
- 2% - representatives of professions related to a special type of insurance.
Historical facts
The history of medicine in Germany began in ancient times, when indigenous tribes, in the presence of diseases, were looking for ways to recover with the help of herbs and medicinal plants. The treatment experience has been passed down from generation to generation and has been developed for centuries.
When the letter appeared, the branch of medicine spoken and written on paper was divided. Most medicinal plants were used as prevention and treatment. For this purpose, seeds, flowers, roots and leaves were used. Doctors observed the effects on the body of fruits and vegetables, herbal teas; how to cure a cough, eliminate pain or diarrhea, eradicate other diseases. Healers of ancient tribes had an idea of surgery, the primitive treatment of tumors and fractures in different places of the body.
When in the Middle Ages the emphasis was on churches and communes, doctors and the availability of hospitals contributed to the emergence of medical services. German statehood developed, so it is not surprising that there was supervision of the medicinal art. Subsequently, the state decided to issue licenses and approve pricing procedures.
In the 19th century (1852), Prussia closed surgical schools and brought together surgeons and therapists in one industry. In 1871, the first commercial bill was passed thanks to the initiative of a liberal public organization led by Rudolf Virchow. In 1939, a law was passed on the possibility of using non-traditional methods of treatment.
Thanks to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the first social security system was introduced (the only one in the world at that time). It included all employees and members of their families. Today, about 90% of the German population is covered by social insurance.
Social insurance
Germany has a well thought out social policy. She is the prerogative of German statehood. The government covers the cost of health insurance:
- unemployed and senior citizens;
- children
- non-working spouses;
- civil servants.
Today, social insurance includes 4 areas:
- pension;
- medical;
- from unemployment;
- from accidents in the workplace.
The social code of Germany includes the following set of services in health insurance:
- disease prevention and health in the workplace;
- regular medical examinations to detect diseases;
- direct treatment;
- emergency care and transportation of patients in serious conditions.
Social Security History
Social insurance dates back to 1881, when Otto von Bismarck pursued a policy of “iron and blood”. It was then that the concept of medical protection and other services first appeared. Such a policy was aimed at the loyalty of citizens. In 1883, for the first time, a law was passed on compulsory health insurance for workers in certain industry sectors.
The system included voluntary and compulsory insurance. The work of medical cash registers was supervised by local authorities. The state has determined the minimum set of services included in the policy.
After World War II, the state was closely engaged in the development of social insurance, which became one of the key areas in the country's policy. Already in the middle of the 20th century, the German healthcare system included structured medical care. These included the following types of insurance:
- state obligatory;
- private fund insurance.
Health insurance
For a person living in Germany, the concept of “paid services” in this industry is practically unknown. Medicine in Germany is so advanced that insurance in this country differs from Russian in 2 ways:
- It applies to all family members.
- The insurance provides truly high-quality medical care.
Monthly interest is deducted from the employee’s salary to a special fund. Therefore, no one living in the territory of Germany is worried about the lack of medical care at the right time.
Hospitals
Many foreign citizens are interested in what kind of medicine in Germany. Only those who can compare, for example, a Russian and a German hospital, respond positively only to the latter. The fact is that in Germany there are many private practices, and they try to resort to hospitals in an emergency.
Patients are placed in separate wards, and there are no reception hours at the hospital. It turns out that relatives can be around the patient around the clock, and no one will ask them about the presence of fluorography or shoe covers. However, the facility is always sterile clean. In addition, the staff takes care of the patient's relatives.
It is especially pleasing that children for the German nation are sacred, so everything is provided in hospitals for the comfort of small patients. At first, the doctor tries to gain the trust of the baby, gives a trifling toy or souvenir, only after that begins the examination.
In the children's hospital room there is no gloom, only the brightness of colors and a lot of toys. After the operation, parents can be allowed into intensive care for the child. Some (especially foreigners) were initially surprised by the behavior of doctors. The fact is that the doctor can be near the child (if he is just a baby), hold his hand and sing songs to him.
If we study the reviews about medicine in Germany, we can conclude that a similar attitude of staff towards patients is a common thing. Doctors are service providers, so they try to do everything possible to make patients comfortable.
Child and Maternity Protection
The difference between Russian and German medicine in terms of obstetrics and gynecology is that all medical services (including childbirth) abroad are fully covered by an insurance policy. Pregnant women undergo tests, are monitored and have an ultrasound scan by their own gynecologists. In Russia, childbirth covered by the compulsory medical insurance policy does not make it possible to choose an obstetrician and gynecologist. In addition, the process of the birth of a child will take place in a common birth room. All other desires of a woman are considered an additional service, which costs a lot.
Developed medicine in Germany (reviews only confirm this) makes it possible to give birth to a baby in a separate cozy room with a bathtub, flowers on the windows and fresh curtains due to standard insurance. Such a chamber is equipped with new medical equipment. The only thing that the family that is expecting the baby pays for is a separate room in which the woman's husband can be around the clock.
Germany has an interesting tradition. If the family has a son, dad plants maple on the territory of the hospital; if the girl is a linden tree.
The main directions in German medicine
In university clinics at the state level, various studies are allowed. That is why good medicine is in Germany. In addition, the state provides feasible support in terms of technical equipment and research. German discipline is an example of how actively this sphere of society should develop in all directions. However, several currents are central.
- Cardiology and cardiac surgery. In the German capital, transplantation of an important organ and research on the development of an artificial heart can be performed. And also undergo treatment in the largest cardiology center in Europe. Close collaboration between physicians and engineers was the impetus that allowed the development of special devices. Devices are a real salvation for surgeons. Now there is a real opportunity to carry out an operation with minimal damage to the skin and soft tissues.
- To optimize the healing process, preventive examinations of specific organs and the whole body as a whole are sent to a separate line.
- A successful factor in recovery is rehabilitation. In the country there are special clinics working in this area. At specific enterprises, equipment is being developed that is specific to the needs of patients in rehabilitation facilities.
Russian doctors in German clinics and hospitals
Many immigrants from the USSR left their homeland and went to Germany to receive additional education or to confirm diplomas. This became a reason to stay in the country and practice healing activities. For Russian-speaking patients, a similar medicine in Germany turned into a double success:
- the service will be at a high level;
- It is easier for those who have not mastered the official language to communicate with the doctor in their native language.
Those who have moved to Germany with knowledge of the official language do not show the difference between a record for a German or Russian physician.
Advantages and disadvantages of treatment in Germany
The advantages of treatment in German clinics include the following points:
- Diagnostics is carried out on modern technical equipment.
- The staff of medical institutions is an example of attentiveness and courtesy to patients.
- Doctors undergo long and intensive training at the best universities in the country.
- The practical activities of physicians and scientific innovations are closely intertwined, so the methods of cure are constantly being improved.
- In other countries, both high technical equipment and a comprehensively developed level of medicine as a whole are lacking, which allows for complex operations in Germany.
- About medicine in Germany, one can say that it has exceptional stability due to low crime and the absence of political unrest.
Unfortunately, there is a fly in the ointment. The main problem of medicine in Germany is the high cost of medical and rehabilitation services in the country's clinics. Few countries in the world can compare with Germany in this indicator. Medicine at the largest university clinics has an especially prohibitive price. Some procedures are several times cheaper in institutions not so famous and not so large. In order to save money, patients are advised to choose a clinic that is not very popular and well-known, especially since there are many such organizations in Germany.