German health policy is likely to become more pro-doctor, expert predicts

In the wake of Germany’s federal parliamentary election last month, healthcare policy has emerged as one of the most contentious issues facing Chancellor Angela Merkel as she begins talks with other party leaders to form a coalition government for the next four years.

Coalition talks began on 5 October in Berlin and are expected to last several weeks. Although the detail of the final healthcare package is still in question, it seems certain that the new government will be much more supportive of the wishes of doctors and private health insurers than were recent governments, said Heinz Rothgang, director of healthcare economics, policy, and research at the University of Bremen’s Centre for Social Politics.

This new support for doctors will come mainly as a result of the return to government of the small pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which has been …