Germany Introduces Mandatory U10 Health Examination to Enhance Child Preventive Care

Germany has officially introduced the U10 health examination as a mandatory preventive screening for children aged nine to ten. This decision by the Gemeinsame Bundesausschuss (G-BA), Germany's highest healthcare decision-making body, aims to bridge the gap between the existing U9 check-up at around age five and the J1 examination for early teenagers. The U10 is designed to detect developmental disorders early, including learning and concentration difficulties, mental health issues, and physical conditions such as obesity.

The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) launched this initiative earlier in 2026 to strengthen prevention and health promotion in children. The examination evaluates not just physical health but also the child's social and emotional environment, providing parents with guidance on health and everyday life. A significant goal of the U10 check-up is to increase vaccination rates against Human Papillomaviruses (HPV), which are associated with cervical and other cancers.

DAK-Gesundheit, one of Germany's largest health insurers, welcomed this development. Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, highlighted that the U10 preventive examination is an important measure to identify and treat learning difficulties early in elementary school children. Since 2014, DAK-Gesundheit had offered the U10 as a voluntary service alongside pediatricians, but the recent G-BA decision now makes it a mandatory statutory health insurance benefit nationwide.

Felrehhoff-Müser, President of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine, noted the significance of focusing on children aged nine to ten, a stage marked by increasing concerns about obesity, mental health challenges, and problematic media consumption habits. While the U10 was previously offered by pediatricians as an additional service, not all health insurers covered the costs until now.

By integrating the U10 examination into the standard roster of child health check-ups, Germany hopes to enhance early disease detection and support healthy development in children, solidifying preventive care as a priority in the healthcare system.