Health in Germany

Germany ranked 20th in the world in life expectancy in 2014 with 76.5 years for men and 82.1 years for women. It had a very low infant mortality rate (4.3 per 1,000 live births), and it was eighth place in the number of practicing physicians, at per 1,000 people (3.3).

A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by The Lancet in September 2018. Germany had the twenty-fourth highest level of expected human capital with 25 health, education, and learning-adjusted expected years lived between age 20 and 64 years.[1]

Epidemiology

At the end of 2004, some 44,900 Germans, or less than 0.1 percent of the population, were infected with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). In the first half of 2005, German health authorities registered 1,164 new infections; about 60 percent of the cases involved homosexual men. Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, about 24,000 Germans have died from the disease.

According to a 2013 micro-census survey, 24.5% of the German population aged 15+ are smokers (29 percent in men, 20 percent in women).[2] Among the 18- to 25-year-old age group, 35.2% are smokers.[3]

Obesity in Germany has been increasingly cited as a major health issue. A 2007 study shows Germany has the highest number of overweight people in Europe.[4][5] However, the United Kingdom, Greece and certain countries in Eastern Europe have a higher rate of "truly obese" people.[6] German Federal Office of Statistics ranks Germany as the 43rd fattest country in the World with a rate of 60.1%.[7]

For home care for the elderly, the family caregivers receive a relief of € 125 per month.[8] The actual amount of relief can be found in the Social Insurance Code under § 45b SGB XI.[9]

In 2015 it was estimated that 11.52% of the population has diabetes type 2, costing about $4,943 per person per year.[10]

A report published by the EU Commission in 2015 found that the life expectancy in Germany was glaringly lower than that in other big European Union countries such as Italy, France and Spain, though it was still higher than the average life expectancy of the whole of EU. The report had some other interesting findings about health in Germany. Incidence of cardiovascular diseases had been declining since 2000 while cancer as a cause of death was on the increase. Incidence of dementia too was on the rise. The number of deaths due to Alzheimer's disease rose from 6,000 in 2000 to 35,000 in 2014.[11]

The number of cases of scabies rose from under 1000 in 2011 to more than 5500 in 2017, the authorities do not know why prevalence is rising.[12]

History

At the end of the nineteenth century Berlin had the highest urban density of any city in Europe. Only 8% of dwellings in the city had a toilet. There were repeated outbreaks of cholera and typhus. Rudolf Virchow promoted sewage works, called Rieselfelder, after the cholera epidemic of 1868. In 1871 a smallpox epidemic killed 6478 people. Virchow estimated that 5% of the Berlin population were infected by venereal disease.

Tuberculosis was estimated to be the cause of about 15% of all deaths in Prussia in 1860.[13]

From 1883 Otto von Bismarck introduced several items of social legislation: the Health Insurance Bill of 1883, Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, and the Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889.

Vaccination

In Germany, the Standing Committee on Vaccination is the federal commission responsible for recommending an immunization schedule. The Robert Koch Institute in Berlin (RKI) compiles data of immunization status upon the entry of children at school, and measures vaccine coverage of Germany at a national level.[14] Founded in 1972, the STIKO is composed of 12–18 volunteers, appointed members by the Federal Ministry for Health for 3-year terms.[15] The independent advisory group meets biannually to address issues pertaining to preventable infectious diseases.[16] Although the STIKO makes recommendations, immunization in Germany is voluntary and there are no official government recommendations. German Federal States typically follow the Standing Vaccination Committee's recommendations minimally, although each state can make recommendations for their geographic jurisdiction that extends beyond the recommended list.[14] In addition to the proposed immunization schedule for children and adults, the STIKO recommends vaccinations for occupational groups, police, travelers, and other at risk groups.[14] Vaccinations recommendations that are issued must be in accordance with the Protection Against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz), which regulates the prevention of infectious diseases in humans.[17] If a vaccination is recommended because of occupational risks, it must adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Act involving Biological Agents.[18] In the event of vaccination related injuries, federal states are responsible for monetary compensation.[18] Germany's central government does not finance childhood immunizations, so 90% of vaccines are administered in a private physician's office and paid for through insurance. The other 10% of vaccines are provided by the states in public health clinics, schools, or day care centers by local immunization programs.[14] Physician responsibilities concerning immunization include beginning infancy vaccination, administering booster vaccinations, maintaining medical and vaccination history, and giving information and recommendations concerning vaccines.[18]

See also

References
  1. Lim, Stephen; et, al. "Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016". Lancet. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  2. "Jeder zweite Erwachsene in Deutschland hat Übergewicht". destatis.de (in German). Statistisches Bundesamt. 2014-11-05. Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  3. Palash Ghosh (2013-06-24). "German Youths Smoking Less, But Tobacco Industry Remains Powerful". IBT Media Inc. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  4. "Topping the EU Fat Stats, Germany Plans Anti-Obesity Drive". Deutsche Welle. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  5. "Germany launches obesity campaign". BBC. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. "Germans Are Fattest People in Europe, Study Shows". Der Spiegel. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  7. "World's Fattest Countries". Forbes. 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  8. "Entlastungsbetrag" (in German). Seniorenbetreung Berlin. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  9. "§ 45b SGB XI" (in German). 4QUA. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  10. "Top 10: Which country has the highest rates of diabetes in Europe? The UK's position might surprise you…". Diabetes UK. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. "Life expectancy much lower in Germany compared to EU neighbours: study". www.thelocal.de. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  12. Wilms, Mike (2018-12-28). "Ursache unbekannt: Immer mehr Berliner erkranken an Krätze". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  13. Richie, Alexandra (1998). Faust's Metropolis. New York: Carroll & Graf. p. 164. ISBN 0-7867-0510-8.
  14. "Germany" (PDF). Vaccination European New Integrated Collaboration Effort. Venice III.
  15. "The German Standing Committee of Vaccination". Robert Koch Institut.
  16. "Vaccinations". G-BA. Bermeinsamer Bundesausschuss. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  17. Kerwat K, Just M, Wulf H (March 2009). "[The German Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG))]". Anasthesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie. 44 (3): 182–3. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1215548. PMID 19266418.
  18. "Recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccinations STIKO at the Robert Koch Institute" (PDF). Epidemiologisches Bulletin. Robert Koch Institute.
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