Gassen, head of statutory health insurance physicians, rages against Warken’s partial sick leave

Dispute over sick leave

The head of statutory health insurance physicians takes on Warken

According to Gassen, for partial sick leave, doctors would have to prepare a kind of report and shed light on many details of the employment relationship. This would require precise knowledge of the workplace and working conditions. “How are my colleagues supposed to do that, maybe roll the dice?” said the head of the statutory health insurance physician. At the same time, the remuneration will be reduced. “That doesn’t just sound like a bad joke, it is one.”

Instead, the KBV boss reiterated his demand for waiting days. “I would like to remind you of our proposal to expand the waiting days and only make a certificate of incapacity for work mandatory from the fourth day of work,” said Gassen. This alone could save around 300 million euros annually. “That would be a real contribution to reducing bureaucracy,” he said.

Warken’s bill stipulates that doctors can determine a “partial incapacity to work amounting to 25, 50 or 75 percent of the insured person’s regular weekly working hours.” Sweden is the model.