[Expectations of Certified Psychologist in the Clinical Medicine System in Germany for Future Reference]

The legally defined certified psychologist is going to enter into the medical care system in 2019. In Germany, where the medical insurance is obligatory like in Japan, the authorized psy- chological psychologists are already functioning. There are similarities and differences between these psychological practitioners. German psychological psychologists are permitted both to have their own practices and to work in hospitals. Patients are allowed to visit them directly to be treated if they wish. The psychological psychologists are also authorized to claim medical treatment fee on medical insurance. The amount of their medical treatment fee is so much as that of psychiatric specialists on the whole. They are neither permitted to prescribe medicines nor to issue a medical certificate. They must ask them to a medical doctor. Like German's, neither prescription nor issue of a medical certificate are included in the authority of Japanese certified psychologists. They are not permitted to have a practice. It seems to be reasonable that every doctor can give them orders of psychotherapeutic treat- ments, as mentally sick patients are increasing in every field of clinical medicine. However it may probably be only psychiatrists who can understand and evaluate their profession appro- priately, therefore it would be suitable that psychiatrists participate somewhere in this order- ing and evaluating system. The medical treatment fee should be paid enough to the certified psychologists.