Minister sees health system savings:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
German health minister Ulla Schmidt continues to claim that large economic reserves still exist within the health system while simultaneously maintaining the stability of the contribution level to the statutory health sickness funds. By improving the quality of treatment and insuring that the patient does not receive duplicate medical examinations, sickness funds can make savings. She is loathe to change any law which would necessitate contributions to made on behalf of children, but believes that the free insurance of spouses will change of its own accord. "Nowadays more young women are seeking gainful employment and this will lead to more contributions to the funds," she told the General-Anzeiger in Bonn. The minister was clear that cosmetic and dietary treatments would not be reimbursed by the sickness funds.