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Sick leave no longer possible by telephone from June 1st

2022-05-30T15:32:49.923Z


In doctor's surgeries, there are many sick people in a small space - the risk of infection is correspondingly high. In the corona pandemic, sick leave was therefore introduced by telephone. Now that's over.


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In the future, anyone who has cold symptoms will have to get sick leave on site or via video

Photo: Maurizio Gambarini/ dpa

After more than two years, the telephone sick leave expires.

From June 1st, patients will have to come back to the doctor's office or use a video consultation to get sick leave.

This was announced by the joint federal committee of doctors, health insurance companies and hospitals.

A reissue of the special regulation is possible depending on the pandemic.

The telephone sick note was introduced at the beginning of the corona pandemic and was intended to reduce the risk of infection, for example by not having to appear in the doctor’s office for people with mild respiratory diseases to get a certificate of incapacity for work.

The telephone sick note was first introduced in spring 2020 and has since been extended several times.

Video consultation hours remain as an alternative to the practical course

If the number of corona cases increases again in the coming months, the regulation can be reactivated for certain regions or, if necessary, nationwide, the federal committee said.

Irrespective of the special regulations during the Corona period, insured persons can receive a sick leave based on a video consultation if the respective doctor’s office offers this.

However, this only applies if no physical examinations are necessary to determine the incapacity for work.

There are many indications that the offer of telephone sick leave was widely used: According to a study by the health insurance company DAK, over 80 percent of employees welcomed the tool, partly because of the lower risk of infection and the time savings.

According to an evaluation by Techniker Krankenkasse, the total number of sick leave reached a high in the first quarter of 2022.

The head of the cash register, Jens Baas, blamed the German Press Agency for a pronounced cold and flu wave.

The omicron wave also increased the effect.

Proven Covid cases would only have made up a small proportion of sick leave.

jlk/AFP

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-05-30

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