SURVEY: GP-2025/1: MSD

GHG:

"The objective of the GHG to strengthen heart health, in particular by improving early detection of lipid metabolism disorders in adolescents and adults, as well as drug prevention in high-risk patients, remains important. Even outside the legal framework, DMP programs should be further developed to provide incentives for guideline-consistent and target-oriented therapy, for example, in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The GBA could establish this measure as part of its regulatory procedures (DMP guideline). Financial incentives through quality-dependent reimbursement can help more high-risk patients achieve their individual cholesterol targets and thus contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular outcomes. Study by the London School of Economics estimates that in Germany alone, around 30,000 deaths could be prevented through better cholesterol management. It is also positive that the GBA has revised the pharmaceutical guidelines beyond the GHG to expand the prescription of lipid-lowering drugs, so that other vulnerable patient groups can also benefit from lipid-lowering therapy in the future, and is continuing to examine the introduction of screening for familial hypercholesterolemia.

The introduction of a mandatory invitation to J1 youth screening by statutory health insurance funds, as called for in the GHG, with the aim of improving HPV vaccination rates, should also be taken up in the next legislative period.

ApoRG:

In our view, the expansion of vaccination offers in pharmacies (from ApoRG) should be implemented as an individual measure.

Reason:

1. Vaccination options in pharmacies promote an increase in vaccination rates and can thus contribute to achieving set vaccination targets in Germany.
2. Expanded vaccination offerings in pharmacies allow for year-round vaccinations. The more vaccinations offered, the more attractive vaccination becomes as a service for pharmacies.
3. The Study by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) from April 2024 calculated that vaccination programs for adults resulted in a 19-fold socioeconomic added value compared to the original investment.

Current status: To date, insured persons have been able to receive vaccinations against SARSCoV-2 and influenza in pharmacies, both as standard and as indicated vaccinations.

Our suggestion: Substantially expand vaccination offerings in pharmacies: Insured individuals who have reached the age of 16 should be able to fulfill their eligibility for vaccinations through standard, indicated, and statutory benefit vaccinations in pharmacies. Furthermore, bureaucratic hurdles (regarding billing, documentation, and space requirements, etc.) must be reduced.