Consequences of privatisation of hospitals in Germany

Anna Wieczorkowska

Abstract

Since the 1990s economization is promoted in the German health system, including hospital sector. Economization consists of privatization of hospitals, changes in legal form of public hospitals - from public to private and changes in hospital payment system. The scientific aim of the thesis is identification of consequences of privatization of German hospitals. The main reason of privatization of Germans hospitals is improvement of effectiveness of their activity. For that reason in doctoral thesis the consequences connected with effectiveness are mostly presented. Authorities shouldn 't allow private hospitals to practice cream-skimming and make only profitable services. They shouldn't allow also that elder and sicker people from sparsely populated regions are deprived of health care. German experience shows that government is not helpless. It has got many ways to bridge market failure: it can establish adequate payment and incentives system, create and modify rationing system of health care services. Government could also allocate funds and establish effective regulations.