Health: 2.4 billion euros for doubtful examinations | EUROtoday

A scientific research raises doubts about self-paying medical examinations. According to a survey commissioned by the Medical Service (MD), Germans spend round 2.4 billion euros yearly on so-called IGeL gives – though these typically haven’t any confirmed profit, defined MD chairman Stefan Gronemeyer in Berlin. Sometimes there’s even a threat of great false-positive outcomes that would hurt these affected.

Individual well being companies (IGeL) are medical examinations that aren’t coated by medical health insurance firms and subsequently should be paid for out of your individual pocket. On behalf of the Medical Service, the evaluation service of the statutory medical health insurance firms, the market analysis institute Forsa surveyed greater than 2,000 sufferers between the ages of 18 and 80 to get an summary of the usage of the gives.

Harm or profit?

Ultrasound examinations of the ovaries and uterus are most frequently used for early most cancers detection. The potential hurt is larger than the profit, mentioned Gronemeyer. According to him, unclear outcomes may result in additional remedies, together with pointless elimination of the ovaries. At the identical time, there isn’t a proof that the chance of most cancers is diminished by this examination.

The hottest IGeL gives additionally embrace intraocular strain measurements in opposition to glaucoma and the PSA blood check for the early detection of prostate most cancers – two examinations through which, in line with the MD consultants, the chance of false alarms and pointless remedies is larger than the medical profit . At the identical time, just one in 4 insured individuals said within the survey that that they had been effectively knowledgeable in regards to the companies provided.

14-day reflection interval required

The Federal Government’s affected person consultant, Stefan Schwartze, described this quantity as “alarming”. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) needs to oblige docs to supply sufferers with impartial, standardized info sheets throughout consultations. Eugen Brysch from the Patient Protection Foundation even requires a compulsory 14-day reflection interval: “Taking surprises and stoking fears are part of this business model.”

The CEO of the AOK Federal Association, Carola Reimann, sees a connection between self-pay companies and the more and more lengthy ready occasions for a health care provider’s appointment: “If a specialist spends his time on cosmetic treatments or questionable preventive examinations without scientifically proven benefit, there is simply a lack of capacity for statutory health insurance Supply.”

© dpa-infocom, dpa:241203-930-306631/1