When health services research becomes important

Abstract

‚Dear health services researchers, we have finally achieved what we have been working for.‘ With these enthusiastic words, Prof Dr Wolfgang Hoffmann, Chairman of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF), opened the 22nd DKVF, which took place at the Urania in Berlin at the beginning of October. The reason for his delight was the fact that - Hoffmann continued - the Innovation Committee recommends the transfer to standard care for 17 projects from the first and second funding waves of the new forms of care, but above all that the results of care research - including those of the ‚WiZen‘ innovation fund project, which was able to demonstrate the superiority of initial therapy in the primary treatment of cancer patients in certified centres - form an evidence base for the recommendations of the government commission for hospital reform. However, this is also precisely what the DNVF Chairman reminded the research community gathered at the German Congress for Health Services Research. Since health services research is now systemically relevant, this not only entails growing responsibility, but also has serious consequences: ‚Health services research now has critics.‘ Because, according to Hoffmann: ‚Our results, recommendations and priorities are now more likely to have consequences, they affect care providers, shift the balance of power and change financial flows.‘