German Health Advice

Most employed people in Germany spend about 15 percent of their income on health insurance and in exchange for a few hundred euros a month are covered when they go to the doctor are treated at the hospital or take medicine.

In most developing countries, however, people would be happy if there were at least the rudiments of a social security system. Germany would like to tailor its development policies to make such healthcare possible in the developing world.

Mary Robinson, former State President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights agreed that world's underdeveloped regions needed better social security systems. Robinson said she wanted to ensure that the "Millennium Development Goals," which were set in 2000, are achieved as soon as possible. One of these is to halve poverty world-wide.

NGOs and politicians need to co-operate

Each year over 100 million people tumble into poverty because they are not insured against illness. Robinson said she believes it is up to the international community to change this state of affairs. She added that political will in the countries concerned is paramount, as are financial support and the practical commitment of development non-governmental organizations.

"The poorest countries themselves have to decide to take the political lead," Robinson said. "Once they do that, they'll be able to count on support to establish social security systems."

Suggesting that the World Bank would be involved, as well as health and labor organizations and the German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), she said she hoped that some positive outcomes would arise from next year's meeting of industrial nations in Germany.

"It would be the beginning of a comprehensive support system if such a signal would come from the G8 summit," Robinson said.

Currently the issue is not about implementing concrete measures for systems in developing countries, according to Germany's State Secretary for Development Karin Kortmann.

However, she insisted that this matter will be addressed within the framework of Germany's six-month European presidency, which begins in January. She said she also expected support from the developing countries themselves.

Change based on "good governance"

"For everything that we do, there has to be the precondition that we find the right structures, governments and parliaments to take steps along with us," Kortmann said. "It wouldn't be effective to implement something from the outside that wasn't wanted or acknowledged or something that went against traditional customs. Therefore, we're particularly concerned about adhering to the principles of good governance, especially within the framework of the EU presidency."

Social Democratic parliamentarian Walter Riester agreed, however, he also said he thinks countries such as China, which has huge democratic deficits but massive economic potential, need support.

He said the question of who advises China on matters of social security and internal stability is very significant.

"After all, it's very important for us, too," he said. "I'm not only thinking about China's development. The same could be said about India. We also have interests; our country has interests in how the global economy develops."

Healthcare is a human right

State Secretary Kortmann illustrates the difficulty and ambition of the task ahead through her own experiences at a refugee camp in El Salvador three years ago compared to healthcare debate raging in Germany.

"There were two female doctors responsible for the care of the people there -- one a dentist, the other a general practitioner and they charged one dollar per appointment," she said of her visit to the refugee camp, adding that $1 (1.33 euros) is the daily livelihood there.

"We in Germany have been discussing whether there should be a quarterly 10-euro practice-fee for visiting the doctor," She said. "That shows that we're in a tricky spot. Social security systems have to take effect in developing countries, our partner countries."

The problem is not new and goodwill can be found, however, the global community seems to find it difficult to put theory into practice, Robinson said.

"For me it's a question of human rights," she said. "Unfortunately, we're so far away from implementing this human right, and I find that very shocking."