The DKG also sees another adjustment screw that, in the association’s view, has so far remained unused. The greater involvement of non-medical professions in patient care. An initiative has been announced here, says Gaß: “But whether anything will come of it in this legislative period is extremely questionable.”
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The hospitals also make it clear that they agree with Lauterbach in describing the problem. In any case, permanent recruitment of doctors from abroad is not in their interest. “Hospitals sometimes incur high costs for the recruitment and integration process,” says the DKG boss. The agencies used are remunerated accordingly for their services, plus language courses, bureaucratic costs and, under certain circumstances, additional expenses such as help in finding accommodation.