Due to a shortage of skilled workers: Medical Association calls for a four-day week

Status: 04.01.2023 16:02

The medical association Virchowbund proposes a four-day week for medical practices. The reasons for this are economic considerations, for example rising costs due to inflation. But it should also be a sign.

The medical association Virchowbund has called on all medical practices to introduce a four-day week. On Wednesdays, they should generally refrain from outpatient care and instead use the day “to deal with bureaucracy and for further training”, said the professional association in Berlin.

The association justified the proposal with economic considerations. Medical practices are “under enormous cost pressure” due to high energy price increases and inflation, but on the other hand have to fight against “a budgeted financing system and the cancellation of funds”.

A four-day week should make work more attractive

The federal chairman of the Virchowbund, Dirk Heinrich, explained: “It is therefore clear to us: services that are not paid for cannot be provided – that is why we have to limit our services.”

The association also described the initiative as a “sign against the ever-expanding bureaucracy in medical practices and as a remedy for the shortage of skilled workers”. A four-day week with full wage compensation, for example, makes working in medical practices more attractive. The same applies to young doctors for reasons of family friendliness, it said.

The Virchowbund represents the interests of all resident and outpatient doctors. The number of members amounts to a total of 12,000 members.

Criticism from statutory health insurance companies

Sharp criticism came from the statutory health insurance companies. Resident doctors would receive more than one billion euros in additional fees in 2023 alone, according to a spokesman. “The fee increases year after year and not less, as is sometimes claimed.”

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