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[Poison centres in Germany-history, function, and relevance]
1Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Deutschland. axel.hahn@bfr.bund.de.
Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
|October 12, 2019
Summary
Poison control centres (PCCs) in Germany provide 24/7 emergency advice for 255,000 exposures annually. Despite proven benefits, their healthcare value and economic impact remain unrecognized, hindering risk detection.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Poison control centres (PCCs) originated in Germany in 1963, evolving from a centralized GDR system to a federal FRG structure, and now operate as eight state-responsible entities, often linked to university hospitals.
- German PCCs handle approximately 255,000 human exposure cases annually, offering 24/7 emergency services, particularly crucial for childhood poisoning management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the historical development, current functions, and relevance of German poison control centres.
- To highlight the unrecognized value and economic benefits of PCCs in healthcare.
- To discuss the potential for improved data generation for risk detection through enhanced PCC infrastructure.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of poison control centre establishment and structure in East and West Germany.
- Analysis of current operational scope, including annual case load and service provision.
- Discussion of scientific contributions, publications, and the need for improved data collection infrastructure.
Main Results:
- German PCCs provide essential 24/7 emergency management for approximately 255,000 human exposures yearly, with significant impact on childhood poisoning cases.
- Scientific contributions are evident through international congress participation and standard textbook publications.
- The monetary benefit and healthcare worthiness of PCCs, demonstrated since 1991, are yet to be fully recognized, impacting effective risk detection due to insufficient data.
Conclusions:
- German PCCs are vital for emergency toxicological management and scientific advancement, despite underrecognition of their value.
- Enhanced technical equipment and manpower are crucial for PCCs to generate sufficient data for nationwide risk detection.
- A national monitoring system for poisoning, mandated by German policy, is expected to be groundbreaking for future scientific evaluation and treatment of poisoning cases.
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