Loss of confidence

The study, presented in Berlin on Wednesday, showed that 62 percent of the general population and 87 percent of physicians do not have a good impression of the health care service.

More than half of those polled, both citizens and doctors, said that they believed the standard of medical services in Germany had declined in the past few years.

Approximately 50 percent of those polled confessed that they had concerns over whether they would be able to rely on the medical services, standards of treatment and medication in the future.

Four out of five citizens believed that treatment, medication and health insurance will continue to get more expensive in the coming years.

On a positive note, approximately two-thirds of Germans rated the efficiency of the health service as "good" or "very good," but just as many demanded a comprehensive health care system reform, along with 80 percent of physicians polled.

The majority of those who took part in the survey doubted that the state could guarantee its policy of good health care for all on a long-term basis.

Nearly 60 percent of physicians polled admitted they had thought about walking out on the public health sector in favor of a job in private health care. The study also showed that many German hospital doctors and young medical staff were considering working abroad.

nda/Reuters/dpa
Editor: Nancy Isenson