Content area
Full text
In Germany, most people are insured by official health insurance. The policies are very expensive, include a huge amount of bureaucracy, and don't cover all the alternative treatments. Many people are not content with the current insurance system, and with the pharmaceutical industry.
Here at ZEGG, we participate in an alternative health care system called Artabana. Based on my experiences with our local group, I am very enthusiastic about these solidarity communities. Similar networks could benefit many people within the US and elsewhere.
The Artabana network promotes and finances a health care system based on principles of freedom, responsibility, solidarity, transparency, and subsistence. Artabana is grounded in ideas of giving, sharing, and realizing a healthy, integrated lifestyle. The first groups were founded in Switzerland in 1987 by people inspired by Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. Currendy more than 105 Artabana groups exist in Germany.
The name Artabana derives from Artaban, the fourth king in The Other Wise Man, written by the American author Henry van Dyke in the 19th century. In the book, Artaban wanders through the country and cures people along his way for free.
Legally, Artabana communities either found a nonprofit association or form a company constituted under civil law. Volunteers do most of the administration. Artabana Solidarity Communities are not affiliated with any religious, economic, or political organizations.
How does it work?
The Artabana network consists of local solidarity communities connected in a national nonprofit association. People come together to support each other in health and sickness issues. They form small support groups, which we call solidarity communities, averaging five to 30 members with equal democratic rights. The groups meet regularly - for example, once a month. There is no alienation as in the current system; instead, by knowing each other, people want to support each other more.
The members feel that every human being is an individual responsible for his/her own well-being.
All Artabana groups try to create the best conditions for individual health care through
* free choice of health care methods, including therapists, therapeutic institutions, and treatments,
* financial and other means of support to enable members to follow their individual path toward health and receive their chosen form of treatments,
* support to build a pluralistic system of health...