[The relevance of individual health services in German ophthalmology]

Individual health services (ihs) have gained importance in the German health-care system. This article describes the economic impact and the daily practice of individual health services from the perspective of ophthalmologists.

An online survey to examine the role of individual health services in ophthalmology was sent to the members of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and the Professional Association of Ophthalmologists in Germany (BVA). 1,361 ophthalmologists (one fifth of all ophthalmologists in Germany) responded to the poll.

87.5 % of the ophthalmologists agree that the quality of ophthalmic care could suffer if the necessary individual health services were not performed. 78.9 % consider individual health services to be financially feasible for the patient. 65.6 % responded to be hardly able to survive economically without individual health services. For approximately half of the ophthalmologists, individual health services represent more than 10 % of their overall income. 57.5 % wish to abolish individual health services and to extend the service catalogue of the statutory health insurances.

In contrast to official reports about the benefit from individual health services, the ophthalmologists do see a medical need for individual health services. Obviously there is a discrepancy in the perspective between health insurers and ophthalmologists.