[Goals in social medicine education for the practicing physician from the viewpoint of social security pensions].

The tasks of a medical doctor employed by annuity insurance institutions, e.g. those of the Federal State, are complex. The doctors work in administration, in medical expert offices, and rehabilitation centres. Their tasks thus comprise the compilation of expert reports, consultation services for the administration, and modern rehabilitation diagnostics and therapy in specialised hospitals. In this context, thorough knowledge and understanding of general medicine as well as an open mind for comprehensive concepts are required. Education and training in social medicine or community health care are still far from perfect, and community medicine is not sufficiently developed as part of medical studies. Consequently, these areas must be strengthened. Annuity insurance institutions cooperate with academies for social medicine in order to improve postgraduate training in social medicine.