Docs & Costs

Almost every day, one hears about the shortage of medical professionals in the healthcare system: doctor shortages, nursing-staff deficits, etc. Just, we should realize that around 1965 in Germany and Switzerland—and likely more or less similarly across the entire Western world—one doctor had to care for about 800 inhabitants/potential patients. And today? Today, it is only about 200. Looked at another way: while there were about 1.2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants some 60 years ago, today there are five (5!). And that, of course, costs five times as much, if the "gods in white" want to continue floating at the top of the social wage scale and not experience a significant drop. More generally, one has to ask the question: what exactly are the costs, problems and indeed illnesses that are caused by these additional expenses today, compared to 1965? With mandatory insurance and an average premium of around CHF 470 per adult and CHF 110 per child, our model family faces a monthly burden of CHF 1,160 (two adults and two children). The bottom line: nearly CHF 14,000 a year. And to earn that causes stress; which once earned, our model-parents could relieve with two nice vacations with the little ones. The reader understands the intention: a plea for a new discussion of the steady-growing health-sector; a full inclusion of all (!) costs and burdens compared to the benefits.