In future, doctors in Germany will be able to treat patients exclusively by telephone, SMS, e-mail or online chat without prior personal contact in practice. The prerequisite is that physicians ensure medical care in diagnostics, counselling, rapy and documentation and inform ir patients about online treatment. In addition, exclusive advice or treatment via digital media must be “in individual cases” medically justifiable.
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After a controversial debate, German doctors ‘ Congress in Erfurt decided with a large majority a corresponding change in model order for doctors. The decision must now be implemented by regional chambers. But that should take two more years. So far, doctors in Germany have been allowed to do such remote treatment only after a personal examination.
Federal Minister of Finance Jens Spahn (CDU) welcomed decision. “With this we help doctors and patients,” said Spahn. “Patients are spared unnecessary paths and waiting times. And doctors can actively shape digital world – instead of ors doing it. “
The president of Federal Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, had already said that treatment and advice from afar could be made possible under certain requirements. The personal doctor-patient relationship will continue to be ” dominant element in medical treatment,” said Montgomery.
The German house veterinarian warned, however, that new offer could be “misunderstood as a cost-saving program for health insurance funds”. The Foundation Patient Protection also made a critical comment. “Losers are mainly people in need of care and seriously ill who hope for ir doctors at home,” said Foundation board member Eugen Brysch. “The foreign call centre operators are rubbing ir hands with joy over new market.”
