Children's health care at risk

19.09.2023 12:20

The Berlin Medical Association warns of a worsening of the already precarious situation in children's hospitals and among pediatricians in private practice. On the occasion of World Children's Day on September 20, 2023, the chamber is calling for effective concepts to sustainably improve the situation for children, parents and doctors.

“The health care of children in Germany is massively threatened,” explains PD Dr. med. Peter Bobbert, President of the Berlin Medical Association. “For several years now, professional associations have been complaining about the increasing overload of pediatricians and parents are concerned about the safe medical care of their children,” emphasizes Dr. med. Matthias Blöchle, Vice President of the Berlin Medical Association.

The Berlin Medical Association sees the de-budgeting of pediatrician remuneration, which was decided this year, as a step in the right direction. But this does not solve the actual problems, especially the impending problem of having young children in pediatric practices. The chamber is therefore calling for an expansion of study places and further training capacities. The lack of medical assistants is also causing problems for pediatric practices.

The situation in Berlin children's hospitals is also worrying. Many pediatric departments were closed and positions were eliminated. In the winter of 2022/23, the clinics were so overloaded that some children had to be moved to the surrounding area. In addition, due to the long waiting times, many parents don't know what else to do and take their children to emergency rooms. Doctors there then have to spend a large part of their working time looking for beds. “This is all a result of the shortage of staff and beds and is no longer acceptable,” said Bobbert. “In order to be able to compensate for seasonal fluctuations, staffing must be based on the maximum bed occupancy and not on the average.”

Counteract medication shortages

No relief is to be expected when it comes to the supply of children's medicines either. Rather, it is to be feared that the existing shortage of medication will worsen and that in the event of waves of infection like last year, there will not be enough fever syrups or antibiotics available. The Berlin Medical Association does not consider the attempt to prevent supply bottlenecks with the law against medication shortages passed in July to be sufficient. “The law attempts to regulate the problem solely through pricing policy,” said Bobbert. But that is not enough. What is more important is that the medicines are also available.

“Especially now that the cold season is approaching, we have to act and learn lessons from the wave of colds among children and young people last winter,” explains Blöchle.

Every child needs a future

Every year on World Children's Day, numerous events, demonstrations and festivals take place nationwide to draw attention to the situation of children and young people. This year's World Children's Day has the motto “Every child needs a future!”

UNICEF Germany and the German Children's Fund would like to encourage the federal government to continue to work towards the implementation of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). From the organizations' point of view, politics must focus more on children and their rights than before and, above all, strengthen those children who are structurally disadvantaged due to poverty, disability or migration or other conditions.