This push has caused a lot of attention: Federal Minister of health, Jens Spahn (CDU) wants the statutory health insurance funds shall be liable in the future for a sick fat distribution disorders to pay for a certain treatment method: liposuction. This fat is filtered off with suction tissue from the hips, the arms or the thighs, to relieve the pain of affected women.

Britta Beeger

editor in the economy.

F. A. Z. Twitter

On Facebook, many patients were on Friday amazed by Spahns announcement that the F. A. had, for example, reported in advance. From the health sector and the Opposition fierce criticism came, however, in particular because it goes Spahn only to this specific example. With the help of a new paragraph in the code of social law he wants to achieve that his Ministry can, in principle, to decide what methods of examination and treatment, the funds must pay.

all for good reason, the applicable basic principles of evidence-based medicine “would be” thrown overboard, said the Chairman of the Federal Joint Committee, Joseph hedges, of the F. A. Z. This body to decide yet about which therapies are reimbursed to the members of the statutory health insurance. It consists of representatives of Doctors, health insurance companies and hospitals.

Fierce criticism of Spahn

hedges referred to the fact that the funds acquired services must be by law appropriate. A demonstration of efficacy is necessary, which presupposes at least a positive Benefit-harm ratio. “This is important to protect patients from useless or even harmful treatment options.” The proof of Efficacy is now dispensed should be, “can patients and compromise a patient directly,” said hedges.

Also the Chairman of the Board of the cash-medical Federal Union, Andreas streets, criticized the safety of patient care would not be guaranteed “in any case” if the services were to be introduced, with no clearly proven Benefits by legal regulation. Hedges, according to the Spahns plans are in compliance but still against a second basic principle: the cost-effectiveness. Finally, the benefits of the statutory health insurance will be paid by the insured community.