The aim is to significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on businesses in the healthcare sector. (Photo: © Michelle Loiselle/123RF.com)

Read aloud:

Healthcare trades are pushing for a reform of prequalification.

Craft policy

May 2026

Healthcare professionals support Thuringia's motion in the Federal Council calling for a review of the prequalification process in statutory health insurance. They argue the existing system is overregulated and inefficient.

The Association of Healthcare Trades supports the initiative of the Free State of Thuringia to fundamentally review the prequalification procedure in statutory health insurance ( § 126 SGB V ). Thuringia has submitted a resolution to the Federal Council entitled " Reducing Bureaucracy in Healthcare – Strengthening Healthcare Trades ." Its aim is to significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on businesses in the healthcare trades , allowing them more time for their core work.

The healthcare trades expressly welcome this initiative. They see it as an important step towards ensuring the quality of care in the long term. The proposal makes it clear that the current prequalification process creates a great deal of additional work . At the same time, it offers no discernible benefit to the quality of care. In particular, the constantly recurring verifications, the extensive documentation , and the regular site inspections cost a lot of time and money. These tasks tie up personnel and resources in the businesses. As a result, less time remains for the direct care of patients.

On existing Qualifications trust

Therefore, Thuringia is calling for a thorough review and improvement of the procedure. The motion contains concrete proposals:

Prequalification should not more from external certification bodies be performed.
Authorities should Site inspections only be carried out in justified individual cases.
Furthermore, it should be a one-time Give a qualification exam.
Additional tests should only be conducted in specific cases. Occasion . held

These proposals largely align with the demands of the healthcare trades. They consider the current system too complicated and inefficient . In their view, existing qualifications already ensure a very high level of care. The healthcare trades are therefore calling for a fundamental overhaul of the process. In the future, the system should rely more heavily on existing qualifications . At the same time, it should significantly reduce bureaucracy while still guaranteeing high quality standards. The resolution from Thuringia addresses these demands.