Telephone sick leave should soon be possible again - "Stay at home"

Created: 07/25/2022, 10:34 am

By: Stella Henrich

In order to relieve the family doctor's practice, but also due to the increasing number of infections - sick leave should soon be possible again by telephone.

Workers are advised to stay at home if they have symptoms.

Munich – If the Federal Joint Committee has its way, it should soon be possible to take sick leave by telephone again.

This was the result of a recent meeting of the joint federal committee of doctors, health insurance companies and clinics, as a spokeswoman now reports, according to the

news agency .

On August 4th, a corresponding decision should first be made as to when the possibility will apply again, the agency report continues.

Until then, the necessary details would be clarified, for example when the regulation should take effect again.

Currently, patients have to go back to the practice to get sick leave.

Alternatively, the video consultation hours can also be used.

Reporting sick by phone: Avoid contagion in the waiting room

Due to the infection process during the corona pandemic, it was possible to write sick leave by telephone for many months.

In this way, infections in the waiting room of doctor's offices should be avoided.

This rule ended on June 1st.

Until then, it was possible to take sick leave for seven days in the case of mild illnesses of the upper respiratory tract, even after only having consulted the doctor by telephone.

The special regulation has expired with reference to the more relaxed corona situation.

Since then, however, the number of infections has risen again.

Even then, the Federal Committee did not rule out the possibility of the special regulation being repeated depending on the pandemic situation.

Wearing a mask is also recommended in medical practices.

(Iconic image) © MANUEL GEISSER/imago

Sick notification by telephone: GPs plead for a permanent arrangement

In the weekly report of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) of July 14, 2022, a "significantly increased level for the time of year" was already recorded in the number of doctor visits for acute respiratory diseases;

around 1.2 million people sought medical help because of complaints. 

In view of the high number of patients in general practitioners' practices, the German Association of General Practitioners "outside" the corona pandemic is also promoting the permanent continuation of sick leave by telephone.

This is a real relief.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has also spoken out in favor of this.

In addition, the minister recommends: “Infected people must stay at home.

Otherwise, not only will the number of cases increase even more, but the workplace itself will become a safety risk. ”By the way, the Bavarian district of Wunsiedel, with an incidence of over 3,000 according to the RKI, is at the top of the corona virus in Bavaria - at least in terms of incidence - and thus behind Saarland and Hesse.

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