Prof. Alena Buyx answers questions about the challenges facing the healthcare system in an in-depth interview with Spiegel magazine. Rising expenditures, using funds wisely, and at the same time ensuring high-performance medicine and good care for all - these are the core issues.

The simultaneous overuse and underuse in the German healthcare system shows that a better distribution is possible, according to Prof. Buyx. Progressive digitization, and the associated reduction in bureaucracy, could improve patient care. However, the issue of cost is likely to persist. On the one hand, there are very expensive treatments and drugs and resulting high profits. On the other hand, there are supply shortages of medications and a lack of nurses. A lot of the financial resources are being put into certain areas, while there is a lack of money in others. Therefore, Prof. Buyx suggests that intelligent and fair prioritization in the healthcare system should be considered in the future.

It would also make sense for society as a whole to debate what is important to us in medicine, what medicine should and can achieve, and where the limits are. It is clear that very human, essential and often difficult questions often play a role in the debate about the healthcare system, to which there are no simple answers. (S+) German Ethics Council: Alena Buyx on questions to which there are no easy answers - DER SPIEGEL

(Photo credit: CR_picture alliance _SZ Photo_ Metodi Popov)