[Structural change and extent of ambulatory medical care in the Saxony-Anhalt federal district].

We sum up below an assessment of data collected in respect of outpatient medical care in the new Federal Land of Saxony-Anhalt as well as of the expert discussions conducted with the medical officers, the responsible physicians of the Association of Doctors registered with the compulsory German sickness insurance body, and with many practising physicians: The process of enabling the doctors to register their practice on an independent basis, is nearing completion and will be finalized in 1992. The medical associations and especially the association of doctors registered with the compulsory German sickness insurance body have a large share in this development. As early as in August 1991, outpatient medical care by general practitioners was already safeguarded. This applies also to the disciplines of ophthalmology, skin diseases and paediatrics. It will be the task of the association of doctors of the compulsory sickness insurance system to close existing gaps in some disciplines and to balance out any regional differences. This process has materialized in a very short time only. The result has been far better than expected, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Hence, the association has been successful in safeguarding medical care in a satisfactory manner.