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POLITICS

Doctor ‘yoga-bonus’ leaves coalition tense

German junior coalition partner, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) has called for a bonus for doctors who recommend holistic activities to patients, but the suggestion has been met with scepticism.

Doctor 'yoga-bonus' leaves coalition tense
Photo: DPA

Health Minister Daniel Bahr, of the FDP, has floated the idea of paying extra to doctors who promote activities such as yoga, Nordic walking or massage therapy to their patients.

“Prevention is a varied topic and it makes sense to integrate it into a doctor’s approach,” said a ministry spokesman.

The intention is to motivate doctors to think more widely about preventative treatment for their patients, but the pro-business party’s plan has triggered outcry from other politicians – and insurance companies.

Florian Lanz, spokesman from the statutory health insurance organisation, GKV, said he opposed the idea. Some doctors earn up to €160,000 putting them among the top earners in Germany and should not need additional ways to make more money.

“We want doctors to be looking after ill people who really need their help, like those with diabetes or cancer,” he told Die Welt daily newspaper.

FDP party leader Philipp Rösler, came up with the idea and passed it down to Bahr when he moved from the position of Minister for Health, the paper said.

It has not been accepted by Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives, the main partner in the coalition, and according to reports from the Berliner Zeitung on Saturday they would be writing a proposal to contradict the FDP’s idea.

According to the paper they, like the GKV, feel giving doctors more money is unnecessary and that a more wide-reaching approach is needed to better prevent illness.

DPA/The Local/jcw

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POLITICS

Federal President gives final sign-off to cannabis legalisation

The sign-off clears the final legislative hurdle for the law, paving the way for cannabis to become legal in Germany on April 1st - Easter Monday.

Federal President gives final sign-off to cannabis legalisation

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has given final sign-off to Germany’s law legalising cannabis, despite appeals from the opposition Christian Democrats not to sign the law over objections from state interior and justice ministers.

Even against these objections, the law passed the Bundesrat – German parliament’s upper chamber representing the states – on March 22nd. The Bundestag approved it already last month.

Presidential signature is the last step required to make German laws official after they’ve passed the country’s two chambers of parliament.

Although the law technically comes into effect April 1st, its implementation will be done in stages.

From April 1st, people will be able to legally possess and smoke cannabis in Germany and grow up to three plants at home. They’ll be able to have up to 25 grams on them and be in possession of 50 grams in total.

However, until July 1st, the only way to get cannabis in Germany legally will be to grow it yourself. On July 1st, cannabis clubs will open for distribution.

KEY POINTS: What to know about Germany’s partial legalisation of cannabis

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