Health insurers achieve top marks, other areas of the healthcare system lose approval

The pandemic was an enormous challenge, but also an opportunity for the German healthcare system to transform and expand its digital infrastructure. But the German healthcare sector has largely missed this opportunity. The approval ratings for the German healthcare system fell noticeably again after 2020: currently only 57 percent of Germans rank their healthcare system among the top 3 systems in the world, while in the first pandemic year 2020 it was 72 percent. Skepticism is particularly pronounced in certain population groups who also speak out against vaccination. These are the central results of the “Healthcare Barometer 2023”, a representative survey of 1,000 citizens by the auditing and consulting company PwC Germany. PwC is publishing the survey for the ninth time in a row.

Almost all areas of the health sector have to accept losses, there is only one exception: the health insurance companies have consistently recorded high approval ratings - over the entire survey period since 2014: Currently, 87 percent of the study participants describe themselves as “satisfied” or “very satisfied”. “ with the work of health insurers. There are hardly any differences between those with private and statutory insurance. Statutory health insurance companies only perform slightly worse when it comes to the question of whether health insurance provides all important benefits (84 versus 90 percent). “I think it is remarkable that the health insurance companies continue to enjoy a high level of trust among the population. “It’s all the more incomprehensible to me that they are hardly included in the current reform debates,” says Michael Burkhart, head of the healthcare sector at PwC Germany. “I advocate that they become partners in health policy.”

Health insurance companies can also play an important role in the upcoming reform of hospital care and financing. The clinics are currently losing significantly in approval: satisfaction with the care in the hospital has fallen by twelve percentage points to 51 percent compared to the previous year. For comparison: In the first year of the pandemic, the clinics were able to achieve peak values of 72 percent. “The valuation has returned to the pre-pandemic level. Apparently the debates about bankruptcies and hospital closures are gradually reaching the public,” comments Michael Burkhart. When it comes to choosing the right clinic, the family doctor still plays the most important role.
Similar to the inpatient sector, the outpatient sector also has to cope with losses, albeit to a lesser extent. While 43 percent described themselves as satisfied with the medical care in practices in 2021, the figure is currently only 37 percent. The main points of criticism are the time pressure among doctors (36 percent), the feeling of not being taken seriously by medical staff (22 percent), and the opening hours of the practices (21 percent).

The pandemic has brought the pharmaceutical industry into greater focus among the population. Thanks to the successes in vaccine development, the industry was able to record a clear image gain. However, it is currently declining slightly: 31 percent currently describe pharmaceutical companies as innovative companies that cure diseases with their products. For comparison: In the first year of the pandemic, 2020, this value was 35 percent. At the same time, 55 percent see pharmaceutical companies as profit maximizers that operate at the expense of social security funds. “We note that the values are still above pre-pandemic levels. However, the pharmaceutical industry has just as little used the opportunities presented by the pandemic to build trust and highlight its own innovative strength as the other areas of the healthcare sector,” says Michael Burkhart.
Data storage accepted under certain conditions
Electronic data storage can also make a significant contribution to innovation in healthcare and advance care. Citizens definitely see this opportunity. They therefore agree to the storage of their personal data under certain conditions, for example if it allows contribution rates to be reduced (85 percent), average life expectancy increases through better care (84 percent) or the closure of a hospital can be avoided (80 percent). ). “I find it encouraging that the population is open to data storage. “The results show, however, that politicians need to provide much more information about the benefits of digitalization than before,” says Michael Burkhart.

Germans are just as cautiously open-minded when it comes to money from financial investors. While Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has declared that he wants to prohibit the purchase of practices by private investors, three quarters of citizens can certainly imagine participating. However, this comes with expectations: private financial investors should help improve healthcare in Germany. “In my view, this is not a free pass, but a clear call to politicians to actively manage participation,” comments Michael Burkhart.
The importance of sustainability is greatly underestimated
In contrast to the debates in German health policy, the importance of sustainability in the health care system does not seem to have yet reached the population. At around five percent, the health sector is responsible for a significant share of CO2 emissions in Germany, but only around a third of those surveyed can estimate this correctly. Only four percent demand that the hospital sector, which is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases, invest more in sustainability. “These numbers really surprised me. They show me that health policy needs to do more educational work on the topic of ESG (environmental social governance). The upcoming hospital reform is also inconceivable without a sustainable orientation,” says Michael Burkhart.
You can find the entire study here (www.pwc.de/de/gesundheits Wesen-und-pharma/healthcare-barometer.html)