HEALTHCARE IN THE UK & GERMANY COMPARED in English with German subtitles

People in Germany pay for their health system by making contributions towards a health fund. They insure themselves at a Krankenkasse, a health insurance company that is closely regulated by the state.
In the UK the NHS is paid through taxation but the amount the government pays depends on who is in power. Labour, who founded the NHS, generally pay more to the NHS than the Conservatives, many of whom would like to abolish and introduce an American-style system.
The healthcare system in Germany and the UK is the subject of this comparative video. I should perhaps have emphasised that in Germany, those on low incomes, who are unemployed or unable to work, are always covered. No one is left without any medical cover, as can happen in the United States.
This presentation is based on an article I wrote for my aidan.co.uk site in 2019. I got to know a pro-European campaigner, who was campaigning for the NHS. She suggested I make a video about the NHS. I decided I would like to make a video that is a comparison between the NHS and the German healthcare system.
This is not a journalistic-style investigation or an academic analysis. It's intended to be an accessible, educational, readable and perhaps entertaining look at a subject, but from a casual viewpoint, comparing the simplest and most essential facts about both systems and also focusing on a few day-to-day aspects, such as the colour of the ambulances, the sound of the sirens, parking charges and more.
There may be some small layout errors or spelling mistakes in this presentation but hopefully no factual errors. I have checked and re-checked the information. Some information is up to date at the time of posting, for instance, the percentage of Gross Domestic Product spent on healthcare - 10.7% in Germany, 10% in England. These are 2020 figures. I have also quoted some sources, the Statistisches Bundesamt and the Office of National Statistics in respect of the figures above.
The BBC video can be found here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-...
Most photographs and videoclips are by me. Other photos are public domain images and are credited wherever possible. I filmed the short video of ambulances in Manchester and Cologne.
This is a revised version of the original video, which contained one error that could lead to misunderstanding. I also removed the German language lesson, as it interrupted the flow of the feature.
The German subtitles have been fully corrected and proofread.
Music 'New Year' by Bad Snacks from the KZbin Audio Library

[@AidanEyewitness]

Do you have any experience of the German health system? Can you compare it your experiences in the UK health system? What can be done to improve the NHS? Can the German health system be improved? Please help me to develop this channel and post a comment. Thank you!

[@karenmedler9454]

l was born in Germany to a german mother and english father but grew up in the UK. From what l know about the health system and GP practices in particular, is that you don`t have this insane system of ringing up at 8 in the morning, in competitition with others just to try and get an appt ! By 8-30 they are usually gone and it`s unlikely anyon will get an appt on the day anyway ! Also you have to wait at least 20 minutes just to get through to the receptionist. l have suggested time and again that the system we had in place when l was a child was FAR superiour to the rubbishy one now, and it iswell known in the uk that Aand E are choc a block with patienta who cannot get an appt, so they go there and wait. This would work just as well in a group practice as in a one doctor practice like they had when l was a child, the only difference is that you would see the next available doctor on a first come first served basis. lt`s an appaling and ridiculous situation, made all the more ridiculous because our stupid government either is blind or doesn`t care, the so called health system is the pits, and getting worse as too many doctors now just don`t want to see patients face to face and people have died because of it !!! ln Germany by contrast you can either just walk in and be seen or ring up if you want an appt or would like to be seen by a particular doctor. Also the GP in Germany does not have the same power or control as the UK GP because in Germany people can by pass the GP altogether and just walk in to one of the many specialist clinics they have on many streets, whereas in the uk the GP has all the power to refer you to a specialist, or not !!! Finally, in Germany many doctors are also fully qualified in herbal medicine as well as traditional medicine and is one of the very few Western countries that does this. l much prefer the german system and the doctors there aren`t such arrogant - - - - - - - as here in the uk, no comparison in my opinion.

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@karenmedler9454 You're pointed out many things I wasn't aware of and in some detail. Many many thanks for your contribution, it's much appreciated and hopefully you won't have so many problems with the UK health system in the future but I guess, not while the current shambles of a government is in power!

[@ReniLuce]

Thanks, an awesome video it helped me out a lot :D. My gf from Britain asked me what is the "equivalent" to the NHS in germany and I quickly figured this is incredibly hard to answer properly.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks very much for your comment. I tried to explain the differences as clearly as I can. Very glad the video was of help. Many thanks for your comment.

[@linkpad6270]

It looks like the doctors philosophy is also different in Germany than UK I think in Germany they try and spot problems early and get a clear diagnosis where as in the UK GP's tend to give medication in the hope that symptoms go away?

[@AidanEyewitness]

Interesting! I’m not sure. Someone I know needed a operation doing, and decided to have it done it Germany as there is virtually no waiting list. He is married to a German citizen. Personally I’ve found the service from our local NHS GP practice very good. Many thanks for your comment.

[@karenmedler9454]

The NHS is not free, it is, as you just said, paid for through taxation of the people.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks for confirming that. I think it would be true to say it's free at the point of use, though paid for through taxation. How much of that money finds its way to the NHS depends on which government is in power!