An international comparison of political paediatrics

Since the start of their speciality paediatricians have been aware of the interdependence between the organisation of the health system and the results of their work. Consequently, they have attempted to have an impact on the health system, albeit in varying ways historically and nationally. In Anglo-Saxon countries, driven mainly by the lack of general health insurance or severe failings in child health care, "child advocacy" was developed as a specific paediatric discipline and has been introduced in medical schools and the paediatric curriculum. Traditionally, child health issues in Germany are primarily promoted on political committees by delegates of paediatric societies. In Austria, due to gaps in general health insurance for children and suboptimal results in performance indicators, a movement of paediatricians, therapists and patient group representatives developed under the name"Politische Kindermedizin" (political paediatrics). It is comparable in its intentions to "child advocacy". One explicit aim of the group is the public discussion of child health issues in order to secure children their fair share of the health budget and to guarantee them optimal medical treatment.