As of: March 29, 2024, 8:26 a.m
By: Stella Henrich
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If doctors have their way, children's sick leave should finally be abolished. This creates too much work in the practices.
Munich – Pediatricians in Germany have called for an abolition of sick leave for children with minor illnesses. “Parents can manage harmless illnesses themselves,” said Michael Hubmann, President of the Pediatric Association BVKJ, to the
Ärztezeitung
. It amounts to an “unnecessary use of pediatric resources” if pediatricians have to certify a harmless illness.
The president of pediatricians does not want to turn medical practices into prosecution authorities
Whether it's a runny nose, a mild fever or a noticeable cough, parents quickly become concerned when it comes to the health of their offspring. Parents who work must then immediately make the decision to stay at home, apologize to the employer and take the child to the doctor. This is because they have to issue a health certificate for children so that parents can be released from work. This is how parents log out correctly when their child is sick.
Pediatricians are calling for an end to children's sick leave. It unnecessarily leads to too much bureaucracy in practices. (Symbolic image) © Imago
But it is precisely this practice that seems to annoy Michael Hubmann and his colleagues. They simply cannot judge “whether a parent has to stay at home to look after a child,” said the BVKJ president. “Absurdly, this is exactly what is required of us by law.” Doctors’ practices are extremely unsuitable as “prosecution authorities for employers’ associations,” Hubmann added. Hubmann also viewed certificates that were necessary so that children with minor health problems could return to daycare or school as unnecessary work, Hubmann says in the report.
He gave the following example: “A child has a mosquito bite. The daycare center says: The child has a rash. So I get dad out of his editorial conference. He picks up his son and comes to my practice.” Such a scenario is “not a joke, it’s everyday life and a social harm.”
Pediatricians annoyed: overcrowded doctor's offices, stressed parents
The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) supported the pediatricians' demand. The initiative is “exactly right,” explained Anja Piel from the DGB board. “If every small cold no longer has to be certified by a doctor from the first day onwards, it will take a lot of pressure off overcrowded pediatricians’ practices and stressed parents,” Piel continued. “We unions hope that Health Minister Lauterbach will support this sensible proposal.”
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In fact, the Minister of Health had already announced last year that in future parents would only have to take their child to the doctor from the fourth day of illness.
Children's sick days
Working parents can take time off work if their child falls ill and needs care. If the parents are legally insured, they can receive child sickness benefit for this period. The entitlement applies to 15 working days per child and parent per year. If there are several children, a total of up to 35 working days can be taken per parent or 70 working days in the case of single parents. This applies in 2024 and 2025.
The amount of child sickness benefit is usually 90 percent of the lost net wages. The prerequisite for the claim is that both the affected parent and the child have statutory health insurance and the child has not yet reached the age of twelve or is dependent on help due to a disability.
Source: Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Pediatricians annoyed: Children's sick leave is now also possible by telephone
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach pointed out on For example, if you have a cold, “you don’t have to and shouldn’t come to the practice.” In case of doubt, the doctor can decide over the phone, wrote Lauterbach. “This takes a lot of pressure off the practices.”
To do this, the following conditions must be met:
The sick child is personally known to the doctor's office
Notifying someone of illness by telephone is medically justifiable. The decision is made by the treating doctor.
The certificate is valid for a maximum of 5 calendar days
Source: TK-Versicherung
Lauterbach announced last year that it would be easier for parents to apply for child sickness benefit. Until now, parents have had to present a medical certificate on the child's first day of illness, if possible. In the future, according to Lauterbach, a visit to the doctor will only be necessary from the fourth day of illness.
(sthe/afp)