A doctor's certificate from the Whatsapp doctor

Who is more than sick for two days, must produce to his employer in the rule as evidence of an incapacity to work certificate from a doctor. The a lot of money, because usually a visit to a practice is necessary. In Zurich, for example, the Issue of a typical certificate of costs in the context of a consultation without further investigations of more than 65 Swiss francs. A new offer from abroad mixing it up in this market now to be proper. This week, the German Start-up- company au-schein.de announced that such a service for patients in Switzerland. And for only 9 Euro, i.e. around seven times cheaper than in Zurich.

step 1: symptoms

The highlight: Swiss patients check need for the witness a few questions about your symptoms just to answer on the Website. And finally, a physician in Germany certifying the inability to work on the Messenger service Whatsapp. So there is no direct contact with the doctors – neither on the phone nor face-to-face.

"you are a cold. Here's your Sick note"

could look Like so a Chat with the doctor, the press material, which has sent the German company: The doctor wishes via Whatsapp message to the patient for the Transmission of the data. What the Patient writes back that he did everything correctly. And he receives the testimony as an image in the Chat sent. The doctor stated: "you are a cold. Here Is Your Sickness. Get Well Soon!"

The Service, available since four months. Already 5000 certificates of the German Whatsapp have issued Doctors so far. Still, the service is limited to colds – with a maximum Sick leave of three days. Soon, however, it should also give testimonies in the case of the stomach flu, pain in the lower back and, presumably, in the case of hay fever, and migraine.

step 2: risks exclude

The main person responsible for issuing the Whatsapp certificates, is a physician and naturopath with his own practice in Hamburg. Add to that 20 other Doctors who can be consulted if necessary. These are fresh graduates, Doctors in the maternity leave, and retired physicians.

The brains behind the organization of the Hamburg lawyer Can Ansay. He is aware that his idea will trigger criticism. But he also stresses that there have been no complaints due to misdiagnosis. And the testimonials were all from the employers and the health insurance companies accepted.

abuse wants to prevent the company, by the service per Patient only twice a year – which is based, however, on self-Declaration. According to managing Director Ansay there are no indications that the offer is a cheat and, for example, the weekends are extended. Most often, the Service will be used on Tuesdays.

step 3: enter the data

Nevertheless, the new deal at Swiss Doctors is bad. "Such a product does not meet our quality requirements," says Yvonne Gilli, in the Central Board of the medical Association FMH for digitization/eHealth responsible. It seems to be "hardly serious".

the FMH Physicians discourages, in principle, to communicate with their patients via Whatsapp – "for privacy reasons". Doctors are subject to, according to Gilli, the professional secret, "and its violation is a criminal offence". In Addition, Gilli points out that a comparison should have a offer from a Swiss supplier of a licence as a medicinal product.

such A permit is, according to managing Director Ansay, neither in Germany nor in Switzerland. But it is also not necessary, says the entrepreneur. Because, according to German and European law, it is not a medicinal product since no data would be processed.

employers ' Association provides the relationship of trust

The question will be whether the employer of such Whatsapp-accept certificates. Gilli says: "How credible is a created testimony, must be evaluated in each individual case."

step 4:

Skeptical also Daniella lützel Schwab is the Association of Swiss employers. She says, in principle, on the part of the employer exists a great deal of trust in the employees, when it comes to certificates in the case of Minor diseases. With the Whatsapp model, the question is whether this relationship of trust between workers, employers and the medical Profession, it should be ensured point. A doctor's certificate is an official document that had to be accepted by the employer, "thus, it has to match also in qualitative terms, the legal requirements". It is questionable Schwab for Lützel, "whether or not the affected worker learns the necessary in-depth assessment of his health".

The provider from Hamburg, Germany is unlikely to be the last, trying to take in the lucrative Swiss healthcare market. The doctors organization FMH is at least vigilant. Gilli says: "We will monitor the supply situation and quality."

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(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 28.04.2019, 10:23 PM