Standardization|22/02/16

Health services and social services should not be subject to standardization

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The DGUV, jointly with the KAN and other German organizations, is opposed to the standardization of health services and social services.

The standardization of products (beds, artificial heart, syringes, etc.) in the healthcare area is commonly recognized. But the standardization of services is booming and there is increasing lobbying for health services and social activities to also be standardized. The DGUV and the KAN are opposed to this, fearing that standards in this area might come into conflict with social systems that are “tried and tested and anchored in the legislation”. 

The organizations give a reminder in the newsletter KANBrief 4/2015 that:

  • Since health services are not subjected to the conventional market economic structure, they were excluded from the scope of application of the European directive relating to services (2006/123/EC);
  • As specified in Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Member States have general responsibility for their social security and health system.

Standards relating to health services therefore pose a problem if they affect the occupational risk prevention organization in the enterprise or the national insurance for occupational injuries, which provides health or social benefits based on specific national laws and regulations.

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