Germany to introduce U10 preventive health checkups for children

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has approved a new preventive medical examination, known as the U10, for children aged nine to ten in Germany. This new screening is intended to be covered by statutory health insurance, filling a gap between the U9 examinations (completed around age five) and the J1 youth health checkups (starting at age 12 or 13).

The U10 examination will focus on several key health indicators, including obesity, physical activity levels, screen time, and psychological well-being. G-BA member Bernhard van Treeck noted that studies indicate specific risks for this age group, such as excessive smartphone use potentially affecting language development and concentration, and physical inactivity contributing to obesity.

Additionally, the checkup will include vaccination counseling, with a particular emphasis on increasing HPV vaccination rates. The implementation of the U10 will take several months, as the decision must first be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health. Once approved and published in the Federal Gazette, a six-month period will follow to determine the reimbursement rates for physicians before the service can be officially offered.