Patients Who Miss Doctor Appointments Could Face Fines

In a growing trend among healthcare professionals, there is increasing frustration over patients failing to attend scheduled medical appointments. This has led to a call for the introduction of a penalty fee for those who do not show up, with proposed amounts reaching up to EUR100 for missed visits.

Leaders in the medical community, including representatives from pediatric associations, argue that implementing a cancellation fee is a necessary measure to raise awareness among patients. Jakob Maske, a board member of the Federal Association of Pediatricians, emphasized the importance of making patients understand the implications of missed appointments. According to him, a fee structure based on the duration of the appointment could be implemented to deter no-shows.

Reports indicate that a growing number of healthcare providers are experiencing a significant increase in missed appointments. Uwe Kraffel, a representative from the German Specialist Association, noted that excuses for missed appointments have become alarmingly common, with patients frequently stating they forgot or simply overslept.

Some doctors have already begun to charge fees for missed visits. For instance, a dentist in Kiel has reportedly started imposing charges of up to EUR100 for patients who fail to appear without prior cancellation. Even pediatricians are beginning to adopt similar practices, reflecting a broader trend across the medical field. Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, pointed out that approximately 10-20% of appointments go unfulfilled, and he advocates for a more modest fee of EUR10 to EUR20 as a deterrent. Gassen believes that maintaining accountability among patients is essential and that a fee structure for missed appointments, which is common practice in various sectors, should also be applied in healthcare.

The proposal for a cancellation fee has garnered attention in political circles as well. Heiner Garg, the former health minister of Schleswig-Holstein, remarked that patients who neglect to cancel their appointments should be subject to a financial penalty. Klaus Holetschek, the CSU parliamentary group leader in Bavaria, expressed his support for the idea, arguing that as long as medical resources are limited, it is crucial to emphasize the value of an appointment.

However, the introduction of such fees has met with criticism from consumer advocates. The Consumer Advice Center has called for clear and legally sound guidelines on when and how cancellation fees may be applied. Currently, the determination of such fees is often left to the discretion of individual courts, creating a lack of consistency in their enforcement.