[Need for Improvement in Healthcare Provision for Rare Endocrinological Diseases in Germany Using the Example...

The care of patients with rare diseases in Germany poses a challenge; endogenous Cushing's syndrome highlights this issue. An analysis of the care situation aims to identify areas for improvement. A systematic literature search on the care situation was compared with prescription data from Germany and France as well as physician statistics from various European countries. In Germany, there is a low density of endocrinologists, a lower treatment prevalence than in France and a longer time to diagnosis than in other countries with well-developed healthcare systems. In order to guarantee need-based care for rare diseases, investments in the training and further education of specialists, such as endocrinologists, and in new, cross-sectoral forms of care are necessary.