WORK–LIFE BALANCE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN GERMANY CONSIDERING RECENT REGULATIONS

Abstract

Background: In the light of demographic changes in the population and among the doctors, the German government has in the last two decades taken several regulatory steps to address work–life balance and related issues.
Objective: This article seeks to identify crucial pieces of legislation that may increase the attractiveness for the GP profession in Germany.
Method: The article summarizes important regulatory steps and their results in terms of increasing the attractiveness of the GP profession.
Results: Some regulations in Germany including the “Vertragsarztrechtsänderungsgesetz” led to more flexibilization in terms of the location and the internal structure of GP practices, while others addressed the further digitalization. A central element for creating attractive working conditions for GPs is the possibility of selective and direct contracting between the insurance companies and the GPs, parallel to the more general collective contracting.
Discussion: While some of these regulations helped to make the GP profession more attractive, they have failed to increase the number of GPs especially in rural socially deprived areas.
Conclusion: The government will need to invest more resources in scientific studies (e.g. international comparison) to identifying regulatory measures that help address the growing gap between the amount of GP care needed by the aging population and the level of care provided with the current human resources.