(de-news.net) – Simone Borchardt, health policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, has issued a strong appeal for comprehensive and far-reaching structural reforms within Germany’s healthcare system. In her remarks, she emphasized the necessity of rethinking the system in its entirety, asserting that incremental adjustments and isolated cost-saving measures were no longer sufficient to address the systemic challenges. Instead, she advocated for a holistic reform strategy that simultaneously considers financing mechanisms, institutional structures, and the organization of care delivery—free from ideological constraints.
Borchardt highlighted the existence of considerable efficiency reserves within the current system, estimating that up to 40 billion euros could potentially be saved through targeted improvements. In this context, she expressed her support for recent proposals put forward by the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA). These proposals included the introduction of mandatory contact fees for medical consultations, increased patient co-payments, and limitations on family insurance coverage. While she acknowledged that such measures alone would not guarantee the long-term sustainability of statutory health insurance (GKV), she regarded them as overdue steps toward addressing persistent inefficiencies.
The CDU politician underscored the importance of collective responsibility in the reform process, calling upon all relevant stakeholders—including legislators, health insurers, service providers, employers, and insured individuals—to contribute actively to the development and implementation of viable solutions. She also referenced the ongoing deliberations of the GKV Finance Commission, suggesting that its findings should serve as a foundational basis for future policy decisions.
Borchardt identified several priority areas requiring immediate attention. These included the optimization of care coordination, the expansion of digital infrastructure and processes, and the strengthening of integration between outpatient and inpatient medical services. She noted that approximately four million treatment cases could already be managed in outpatient settings, which would not only reduce costs but also alleviate pressure on healthcare personnel and enhance patient outcomes. Furthermore, she emphasized the transformative potential of digital documentation and artificial intelligence in streamlining administrative workflows and accelerating procedural efficiency.
In addition, Borchardt called for a resolution to the structural imbalance caused by non-insurance-related services, which she stated impose an annual financial burden of roughly 10 billion euros on statutory health insurers. These services, she argued, should be financed through general taxation rather than through contributions to health insurance funds. She concluded that only through the coordinated implementation of efficient structural reforms, the adoption of digital innovations, a robust emphasis on preventive care, and the establishment of a fair and sustainable financial architecture could the statutory health insurance system be rendered truly resilient and future-ready.
