Health insurers demand a central doctor's appointment portal
Germany’s statutory health insurers have put forward a plan for a new digital portal. The system would let patients book doctor’s appointments through a single, unified platform. The proposal aims to simplify access to medical care by showing all available slots in one place.
The initiative comes from the GKV-Spitzenverband, the umbrella group for statutory health insurers. Under the plan, doctors would need to report a set number of their open appointments to the platform. This would give patients a clear, centralised view of when and where they could be seen.
The digital system would also handle initial assessments based on symptoms. After entering their complaints, patients would receive guidance on the best course of action. Recommendations could include seeing a GP, going to an emergency clinic, heading to hospital, or simply resting at home. Appointments would be allocated according to medical urgency rather than insurance type. The platform would work for both private and statutory insurance holders. Patients could book directly through their health insurance app, making the process quicker and more straightforward.
If implemented, the portal would streamline how patients find and secure doctor’s visits. The system would rely on real-time data from medical practices and prioritise cases based on need. Health insurers hope this will reduce waiting times and improve access to care across the country.
