Better care for the heart
Lauterbach is fighting the most common cause of death with vouchers
April 14, 2024, 12:34 p.m
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Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in Germany. According to Health Minister Lauterbach, unnecessarily. Many deaths can be prevented with preventive examinations. There will be vouchers for this in the future. Even small children can benefit.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to reduce the number of cardiovascular diseases in Germany through preventative care vouchers. “We want to use a voucher system to ask everyone across Germany for children and young people, 25-year-olds, 35-year-olds and 50-year-olds to have their values measured: blood pressure, including the risk factor of diabetes,” said Lauterbach “Picture on Sunday”. “You get something like a voucher. We will process this later via the electronic patient file. And with this voucher you can then have your blood values determined. And if the values are abnormal, then you can start treatment through your family doctor.”
When asked why cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in Germany, Lauterbach replied: “That is unnecessarily the case. Under ideal prevention conditions, almost 90 percent of all cardiovascular diseases can be prevented. There is no such deadly disease , where so much death is unnecessary. And it is sad that we have achieved so little in Germany.”
In Germany there are now very effective, inexpensive medications such as statins that can significantly lower cholesterol levels, explained Lauterbach. The earlier you start treatment, the better. If the stress in a family is high, you have to start with children.
Fee for successful smoking cessation
The risk of heart attack should be determined even in small children. Offers to help smokers quit should also be expanded. “If doctors get a fee for offering smoking cessation, then that can be something. Then we get people moving,” said Lauterbach.
The SPD politician had already announced last October that undetected high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and other risk factors for heart attacks and strokes should be identified and treated earlier in the future through significantly improved prevention. After consultations with representatives of doctors, health insurance companies and pharmacies, he announced a corresponding draft law.