German doctors stage nationwide protest against GKV savings plan

The German Association of General Practitioners has launched a protest week across Baden‑Württemberg and other states, urging primary‑care doctors to keep every second waiting‑room seat empty to highlight the impact of the federal government's €16.3 billion GKV savings package. The association warns that the proposed "Fixkostendegression" – financial cuts for practices that enroll new patients under the Hausarztzentrierte Versorgung – will jeopardise patient care.

The protest is part of a broader national campaign, with doctors and psychotherapists planning to close their practices for a day to pressure health minister Nina Warken and legislators. Organisers have also called on patients to email their representatives, distributing informational material to roughly 50 000 practices. The measures under debate include higher co‑payments for medication and reduced extra payments for services such as organ‑donation counselling.