Outpatient primary medical care works because many people contribute!

14.04.2020 11:52

The German Association of Specialist Physicians (SpiFa) advocates for a shared responsibility among physicians of all specialties to maintain high-quality healthcare even during the coronavirus pandemic. The challenge must be met together, and SpiFa believes there must be no pitting of specialists against each other.

„Outpatient primary care functions because many contribute! In addition to traditional general practitioners, pediatricians and internists working in primary care play a crucial role. However, this is not enough to organize comprehensive primary care. For example, ENT specialists and pulmonologists are already taking on a significant portion of the care for infectious patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ said Lars Lindemann, CEO of SpiFa, on Wednesday in Berlin. „In addition, there are psychotherapists and all other specialists involved in the mental health of patients, but especially laboratory physicians, without whose services very little would function at the moment.“ Against the backdrop of excellent cooperation between the specialist groups, Lindemann warns against politically motivated interference: „Physicians must not be pitted against each other. We must face this challenge together.“