AS the coronavirus epidemic continues to claim thousands of lives, how are different countries around Europe plotting a route back to normality? Our journalists and contributors give their latest insights.
In Germany, workplaces require employees to provide a sick note from a GP when they are ill. But do you really need to visit a doctor for the certificate? A court case is raising these questions.
The British government's offer to cover the health costs of UK pensioners in Europe was meant to provide reassurance to elderly British citizens. The time-limited offer has been met with scorn however by rights groups that represent British nationals in the EU.
While some have speculated that increased immigration could be a strain on Germany's social security systems, new figures reported by German media seem to show that the safety net is actually profiting greatly.
The opening of a new doctors' surgery led to a queue of 400 patients in one east German town, highlighting the country's shortage of medical specialists.
Chief medical officers can only communicate with one-third of their staff in German and more patients are complaining about many physicians' poor command of the German language, the head of the Berlin Medical Association said on Monday.
The healthcare industry could create tens of thousands of new jobs this year, the German Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in a report published on Tuesday.
The 71 million people covered by Germany’s statutory health insurance system may soon be forced to pay up to €840 ($1,195) per year over normal premiums, according to the the head of the state insurance association.
The chancellery played an until-now secret role in removing Germany’s top medicines examiner, whose departure from heading the country’s drug watchdog prompted accusations of political interference, according to a new book.
The next head of Germany’s medicines assessment body says up to nine in ten drugs currently being prescribed and sold in the country are pointless and should no longer be paid for by the public health system.
A German health insurance official on Monday said additional fees for statutory insurance are likely to be implemented nationwide by 2011 at the latest.
The New Year ushered in a tax relief package in Germany worth several billion euros, the first realisation of a campaign pledge made by Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government.
Doctors and hospitals are blaming each other this week after it emerged that medical facilities have been secretly paying premiums to doctors for sending them patients.
Millions of Germans will have to cough up more money for healthcare starting next year after the government and insurers failed to agree on setting a common health insurance premium.
