Crime in the Healthcare Sector Becomes an Increasing Concern

Essen is the healthcare hub of the Ruhr region. The city hosts nearly 40,000 jobs in the healthcare sector, making it one of Essen’s largest employers. This development is no accident: it arises both from targeted support and demographic necessity. Essen has had a disproportionately high proportion of elderly residents for years, coupled with an overall challenging demographic structure. The natural population decline due to a higher death rate is primarily responsible for the city’s population loss over recent decades.

It is therefore unsurprising that Essen has invested heavily in a strong healthcare sector, with facilities of regional and international importance such as the Heart Centre and the West German Tumour Centre. The city’s medical expertise is even so advanced that, according to official information, it attracts international patient tourism—a logistical challenge easily managed thanks to Essen’s 13 hospitals with more than 6,000 beds. However, the healthcare sector has traditionally been highly vulnerable to criminal activity. These include billing fraud by doctors, theft of medical supplies, drug theft and misuse, corruption, chip card fraud, and more. Perpetrators can be both service providers (doctors, pharmacists, care staff) and patients.

The detectives at Kurtz Detective Agency Essen are trained and experienced in tackling healthcare-related crime. Seek their advice regarding appropriate countermeasures: +49 201 3840 9057.

Essen as a Research and Conference Location

Thanks to private initiatives and internationally significant research projects, Essen has earned the status of a medical research city. Several healthcare conferences and trade fairs are held in the city every year. The University of Duisburg-Essen offers a wide range of medical, pharmaceutical, and medical technology programmes. Specialised facilities, such as the West German Proton Therapy Centre, enjoy international recognition and status.

The city also undertakes numerous initiatives to strengthen its healthcare sector. This is partly in response to demographic challenges, but it is by no means standard compared to the policies of many other municipalities. For instance, in early 2015, Essen actively opposed a decision by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein) in Düsseldorf, which would have closed numerous emergency practices.

Healthcare as a Growth Industry

Essen’s age profile is concerning: according to statistical data from 31 December 2010, more than 22 percent of the population were 65 or older. Consequently, the Ruhr metropolis has a high density of private doctors and hospitals of international renown. As demographic projections indicate a continuing aging trend in Essen, the healthcare sector is certain to gain even more importance and continue its already positive growth trajectory.