AOK veteran Helmut Schneider retired after 43 years

AOK veteran Helmut Schneider retired after 43 years

After 43 years in the service of the AOK, Helmut Schneider retires. The long -time regional director of AOK Euskirchen/Schleiden announced its farewell on April 30, 2025. His career began in 1982 after he had previously completed the Bundeswehr. Schneider originally wanted to strive for banking training, but his hairstyle prevented this. Instead, he found his way to the AOK, where he completed an evening studies in 1993 as a graduate administrator in the social science specialization.

Schneider for almost 19 years. During his term, the number of insured members rose to around 220,000, of which 64,000 live in the Euskirchen district. Under his leadership, 98 AOK employees worked for the concerns of the insured. Schneider attaches great importance to creating realistic expectations with customers and emphasizes that only services can be taken over, the effect of which has been scientifically proven.

changes in healthcare

In a current OECD report, published under the title "Health at a Glance: Europe 2024", the below-average life expectancy in Germany is discussed. The report shows that Germany in the European Union is only exceeded by countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia and Croatia when it comes to life expectancy. Despite the health challenges, Germany leads to health expenditure with 11.8 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023.

A remarkable aspect is the high personnel deployment in German healthcare. There are 12 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, which means a top spot compared to the EU average of 8.4 nurses. The doctor's density is 4.5 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, also above the EU average of 4.2. However, there are fewer general practitioners in Germany and a higher proportion of specialists, which affects the care structure.

recommendations for action and challenges

The OECD urgently demands measures to address the lack of personnel in the health sector and to better shape the prevention of the aging population. The report also points to the emigration of doctors and nurses trained in Germany in Switzerland, which is an additional challenge for the health system. The distribution of foreign and domestically trained specialists could be highlighted as a positive aspect compared to other EU countries.

Helmut Schneider plans to actively shape his retirement. His projects include jogging, cooking and visiting his grandchild in Cologne. He shaped his long career by a tireless efforts for the interests of the insured and the continuous improvement of the service at AOK.

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