In the 21 Century, the palliative care in Germany reached a very positive reputation. That was not always so; various interest groups have had to prepare the way for comprehensive way this sensitive topic.
The origins of palliative care in Europe to the 19th Century and came back in the 80s to Germany after 1967 in London, the first hospice was founded. 1983 in Cologne was the first palliative care unit and three years later established the first hospice in Aachen. Over the years, slowly but surely more to it; currently there are in Germany over 300 palliative care units and hospices. The founding organizations were often religious institutions, community groups and clubs.
In the 90-years various companies and associations representing the interests of patients and their families and still represented. 1992, established the Federal Association Hospice (Hospice BAG), has seen the first signs of success in relation to the creation of legal basis for funding of hospices. In 2007 it changed its name to the German Hospice and Palliative Association (DHPV).
In 1994 the German Society for Palliative Medicine and a year later founded the German Hospice Foundation, which also represented this issue with health insurance and the policy to fight for adequate funding and public awareness sharpened. Also contributing to these associations and help hospice idea in hospitals and nursing homes in order to improve the handling of dying and the nurses not to leave with the psychological strain of their field work alone. The German Hospice Foundation does not operate any hospices in order to remain independent in their work.
Since 1997 teaching material exists on palliative care, although the issue until the new millennium gradually became a compulsory subject for study and exams was. It is now possible for aspiring doctors to specialize in this subject area.
2007, the Bundestag passed a law in the SGB V, which governs the right of patients to palliative care. The services of hospices are worn today as 90% of the health insurance, so that only another 10% are provided by the hospice itself. Since 2009, patients also make no financial contribution more – a great relief.
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Jan 2012
