Herr Steffens needs to see a doctor. In his home country Germany that´s pretty easy: with his doc search app he finds Dr. Scheel nearby. At her surgery he hands over his electronic health insurance card, is treated and returns home.

To Herr Steffens that´s normal. Made possible by many involved behind the scenes.

Everyone in Germany is free to chose their own doctor or psychotherapist whom they trust most. This freedom of choice is guaranteed by the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung and its 17 regional associations.
They also take care of finances; settling everything with each health insurance – there are more than a hundred. Thus ensuring that Herr Steffens can concentrate on getting well soon, without having to deal with paperwork.

Herr Steffens can rely on Dr. Scheel´s competence: Like all her colleagues she attends advanced training regularly; and proves that to her regional association. They are responsible for the high quality of treatment in all independent surgeries cooperating with statutory public health insurances.

As most Germans Herr Steffens is a member of the statutory health insurance. More than 70 million are entitled to the same high standard in treatment; despite age or income. The insurance fees are split in half between the members and their employers.
The KBV and its regional associations are mandated by the state as part of this self-governing health system.

In order to ensure that Herr Steffens receives treatment according to state of the art science the KBV makes suggestions: for treatments to be included in the portfolio of the public health insurances for their statutory members. This portfolio is regularly updated by KBV along with health insurances, hospitals and patient organisations.

Good treatment needs good working conditions for doctors and psychotherapists. That´s why they´re also represented politically by the KBV and its regional associations. One aim: a modern freelance framewo rk attractive for young professionals. To ensure that Dr. Scheel finds a successor and buyer for her surgery. Thus ensuring that Herr Steffens´children can also rely on finding a specialised doctor nearby – by the time they have grown up themselves.

The German health system is faced with a number of challenges. The KBV will continue playing its part in building and upholding a sustainable health system accessible and attractive for all – for Herr Steffens as well as Dr. Scheel.

Dr. Bloch is a GP in a small town in Germany. She always wanted to run her own surgery: independently and in long lasting personal bonds with her patients. With her surgery Dr. Bloch forms a vital part of Germany´s self-governed health system.

Whereas in many other countries medical care is organised by the state and its own public institutions: in Germany it is the health system itself, that organises medical care; financed by the fees from all members of the public statutory health insurances.
In other countries surgeries and hospitals are financed by the state with tax money. In difficult times that can quickly affect quality and quantity of medical care.

Also typically German: the principle of benefits in kind. Which means: members of statutory health insurances are entitled to medical treatment, therapy, cure, remedy, drugs and aids – without having to pay for any of it, especially not in advance.

Here the state limits itself to setting the legal framework and defining the duties within. The actual medical care is shaped by the care providers and their organisations – for instance independent ambulatory doctors or hospitals. In the case of independently working doctors and psychotherapists it is the KBV and its 17 regional associations. They negotiate with the statutory health insurances: the portfolio of treatments and according fees.
They also take care of settlement between each surgery and health insurance. And they ensure everyone receives ambulatory care – medical and psychological.
Even on weekends and bank holidays. Dr. Bloch regularly is on emergency duty. Its nationwide service is available 24/7. Her colleague, an eye doctor with his surgery around the corner, takes part, too. Like the psychologist next door, he and Dr. Bloch run their own surgeries: freelance and independently. Together they form a tightly woven net of around 100.000 surgeries. For patients this means a great variety of choice and short distances.
In the name of these surgeries the KBV negotiates within the Federal Joint Committee: the highest body in self-governance. Here all relevant organisations come together: doctors and psychotherapists from ambulatory care as well as dentists, hospitals, public health insurances and patients. Hence, medical care is decided upon by those who provide it.
With their surgeries Dr. Bloch and her colleagues ensure provisioning hospitals for the treatment of critical and serious conditions. An advantage, not least in times of epidemics or pandemics.
In order to maintain this provision, doctors like Dr. Bloch and their psychological colleagues campaign for good political conditions: represented by their regional and federal organisations.