HAEV study reveals declining general practitioner care in Germany

A survey commissioned by the German General Practitioners' Association (HAEV) reveals growing public concern regarding the quality of primary medical care in Germany. Conducted by Civey GmbH in August 2026 among 5,000 citizens, the study shows that 44% of respondents perceive a deterioration in general practitioner services over the last five years, while only 13% reported an improvement.

Regional disparities are significant. The highest levels of perceived decline were reported in Saarland (58%), Saxony-Anhalt (55%), Thuringia (54%), and Brandenburg (54%). In contrast, regions such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Schleswig-Holstein reported better outcomes.

The findings highlight the impact of healthcare on political engagement and quality of life. Approximately 81% of participants consider good general practitioner care a decisive factor for their overall quality of life. Furthermore, 51% of respondents stated that the quality of medical care influences their voting decisions, marking a 13.5 percentage point increase compared to surveys from two years ago. HAEV Co-Chairman Markus Blumenthal-Beier warned of a potential collapse of medical structures in certain parts of the country and called for fundamental systemic reforms.