G-BA approves four Long Covid drugs for insurance coverage

5 Mwezi wa nne, 2026

Imeripotiwa na AI

Germany's Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) decided on Thursday to allow health insurers to cover four drugs that alleviate certain Long Covid symptoms. Previously, patients had to pay for these off-label uses themselves. The ruling eases access for the country's 74 million statutory insurees.

In Berlin, the G-BA, which regulates benefits for 74 million statutory health insurees, issued the ruling on Thursday. Long Covid patients have faced high costs, as no drugs are officially approved for the condition.

Martin Walter, a clinic director in Leipzig and head of the Post-Covid Task Force of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, welcomed the decision. "A situation in which no single drug had been specifically recommended, approved, and reimbursable until now, although there was partial international evidence and use in other countries," he told the Science Media Center.

Walter highlighted the need: "Patients no longer have to resort to expensive, unfunded, and unproven over-the-counter preparations." The measure addresses a key frustration in treating post-Covid complaints.

Makala yanayohusiana

German cabinet meeting finalizing 2027 health reform draft with 16.3 billion euro savings target.

German government finalizes 2027 health reform draft with 16.3 billion euro savings target

28 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Picha iliyoundwa na AI

Following Chancellor Merz's announcement that the bill was practically ready, the German government finalized its health reform draft on April 28, targeting 16.3 billion euros in savings from 2027—down from an initial 19.6 billion—to address a 15.3 billion euro deficit at statutory health insurers. The Greens decry it as a burden on insured people and companies, while Health Minister Nina Warken calls it balanced. Cabinet approval is set for Wednesday.

House doctors demand savings in health insurers' administrative costs

Markus Blumenthal-Beier, head of the German house doctors' association, calls on statutory health insurers to cut their administrative costs. He proposes halving them mid-term rather than restricting patient care. CSU politician Klaus Holetschek advises seeking cooperations and mergers.

KBV head Gassen calls specialist appointment guarantee „bullshit“

5 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Andreas Gassen, head of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV), dismissed demands for a guarantee of specialist doctor appointments within three weeks as „bullshit“ and „socialist regulatory frenzy“. He stressed that appointment allocations must be based on medical need. Gassen was responding to SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch.

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Warken presents savings measures for statutory health insurance

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Chancellor Merz: Health reform bill practically ready for cabinet

End of reimbursement for sector 3 doctors' prescriptions in 2027

From January 1, 2027, prescriptions for care and medications by sector 3 liberal doctors will no longer be reimbursed by Assurance-maladie, under the 2026 social security financing law. The measure affects about 1,000 non-conventioned doctors out of more than 200,000 in practice. The profession is voicing anger over this restriction.