Medicine and Economy: Measures for a Science Based, Patient-Centred and Resource Conscious Care. The Association of Scientific Medical Societies' (AWMF) Strategy Paper

Abstract

The AWMF and its medical societies perceive an increasing dominance of economic targets in the hospital health care sector, leading to impairment of patient care. While resource use in health care should be appropriate, efficient and fairly allocated, "economization" creates a burdensome situation for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.The AMWF and the medical societies studied causes and developed measures for a scientific, patient-centred and resource-conscious medical care. Disincentives due to the remuneration system, number and equipment of hospitals resp. specialist departments and their basic funding need to be overcome. Proposed actions relate to the patient-doctor-level, the management level of hospitals and the level of planning and financing hospitals including compensation of hospital care. To place patients and their health in the forefront again, joint efforts of all stakeholders in health care are needed.