gms | German Medical Science

Public Health costs are expected to rise exponentially as patients live longer and advances in medical science become increasingly expensive. To limit costs it is necessary to change our views.

However, a renunciation of progress or a reduction in 'suitable' patient care do not seem acceptable, especially to the old. Attitudes like: "I'm entitled to it – Please don't save money in my case – I wasn't ill for a long time: now I'm going to get my money back" should be replaced by "What is necessary – What can I do without?" This change of approach is not only reasonable but essential to avoid financial disaster.

There are several ways to avoid unnecessary costs:

• Better choice of diagnostics would reduce the incidence of sick-reports.
• Better choice of treatments would reduce the prescription of medicines.
• Focus on spontaneous healing would reduce the resort to therapy.
• Streamline administration would reduce the immense bureaucratic load.
• Economy drive would reduce the use of expensive procedures applied to avoid professional condemnation.
• Firm action against anti-social egocentrics, who will never give up their perceived rights voluntarily, would reduce pressure on the system.

Effective reform will be achieved when all concerned recognise that their egoism leads directly to State-controlled medical care which is followed by a new kind of injustice and, above all, worse quality.