Telephone sick leave is possible again - but only on one condition

From now on, doctors can again issue a sick note by telephone.

But not every sick person just gets it.

Due to the increasing number of corona infections

across

Germany,

now again determine

the

of

by

and then

issue

a

note

.

The

Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) in the health sector decided on the

regulation to relieve the burden on

last Thursday.

As

*, the

only made under one

.

Telephone sickness notification: Regulation is intended to help combat corona

At the beginning of the

, there was a nationwide regulation for

.

However, this was initially expired on May 31, as reported by

*.

From then on,

only be permitted depending on the infection rate and, on request, regionally and for a limited time by exception rule.

Most recently, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the Rhineland-Palatinate Association of General Practitioners called for the reintroduction of

.

"That was an important and successful component in the fight against the pandemic in the spring," said the chairwoman of the general practitioner association, Dr.

Barbara Römer, told the German press agency a few days ago.

Flu and coronavirus: telephone sickness notification should relieve medical practices

In addition, the resumption of the regulation should lead to a relief of the already always full

.

Otherwise, in the common wedding of corona and flu, which may be difficult to distinguish for laypeople *, these would certainly have to do with a rush of patients again.

+

A certificate of incapacity for work can now be issued again by telephone if you have a slight cold.

© picture alliance / Patrick Pleul / zb / dpa

“If there is one thing we don't need in this serious situation, it is full waiting rooms,” said Professor Josef Hecken, impartial chairman of the G-BA.

Not every

gets

by

.

Sick notification on the phone: Doctors issue sick notes under one condition

Only those who are unable to work with a cold can

obtain

a

note

from the

.

*

explains

.

Professor Hecken: "Doctors in private practice must personally convince themselves of the patient's condition by means of a detailed telephone survey."

Telephone sick leave

When?

From October 19 to December 31, 2020

Where?

Call the family doctor

Who?

Patients with mild respiratory diseases (colds)

The parallel development of

and

, for which several vaccines are currently being developed *, is worrying.

“We absolutely have to interrupt it without the patient care suffering,” said Professor Josef Hecken.

Telephone sick leave: The rule is initially valid until the end of the year

In order to receive a

note, it is

crucial

that the

only mild symptoms of a respiratory disease

.

For all other complaints, going to a practice is still necessary.

A

is valid for seven days.

The

for

can then be extended

once by calling the

for a further seven calendar days

.

The regulation initially applies until the end of the year.

Telephone sick leave: Patients seem to be careful with regulations

The simplification of the certificate of

for

at the beginning of the pandemic was apparently not exploited.

Hecken: "The experiences from spring with

by

have shown how carefully insured people deal with it."

"The experiences from spring with sick leave by telephone have shown how carefully insured people deal with it."

Professor Josef Hecken, impartial chairman of the G-BA

In good time before the

on December 31, 2020, the G-BA wants to decide on a possible extension depending on the pandemic.

However, the G-BA emphasizes that

with

or after contact with people who have been proven to be infected

should

definitely contact the

question

before

a

, regardless of the exception

of

.

Sick leave by phone: One of many measures to contain the coronavirus

The

is one of many measures the spread of the

should contain.

Most recently there were stricter rules nationwide.

For example, Baden-Württemberg declared the last and critical pandemic level 3 *.

We are in a serious phase of the #corona pandemic.

Chancellor #Merkel appeals to citizens to significantly reduce their contacts - and to forego unnecessary trips and celebrations.

pic.twitter.com/b4VmlsXS6a

- Steffen Seibert (@RegSsprecher) October 17, 2020

In addition to the measures decided at the Prime Minister's Conference, Chancellor Angela Merkel also appealed to all citizens.

She called on people to reduce contacts and to avoid traveling wherever possible.

*