The Professional Association of German Anaesthesiologists (Berufsverband Deutscher Anästhesisten (BDA)), founded in 1961, - represents the interests of anaesthesiology, including all its areas of activity in all questions dealing with Health Policy, Occupational Policy, Professional Policy, and - advises its members on, among other things, such questions as service contracts, calculation of charges in accordance with the official scale of medical fees, the law applicable to medical practice, liability insurance, starting up in private practice, staff requirements, hospital financing.

In accordance with the federal nature of administrative structures in Germany, the Professional Association of German Anaesthesiologists is organised into 17 regional associations.

Where as the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) promotes the scientific advancement of the speciality in the areas of research, teaching, further educational and specialist training, as well as clinical developments, the BDA is responsible for looking after the professional interests of anaesthesiologists.

The BDA is the authorized and accepted interlocutor in negotiations with ministries, public authorities and political committees, in matters relating to the health policies and the occupational and profession policies of both the Federal and Regional Governments.

The present position of anaesthesiology as an equal member of the community of medical specialties is, to a large extent, due to the efforts of the BDA.

On the basis of constant contacts and carefully negotiated agreements with other specialties, including i.e surgery, gynecology, obstetrics and internal medicine, inter-specialty cooperation and the delimitation of the areas of responsibility of the various specialties have been regulated and placed on a firm footing.

As a result, the position of the anaesthesiologist in the operating theatre and his/her role in the intensive care unit, in emergency medicine and in the area of pain management are now clearly defined.

Together, the DGAI and the BDA share responsibility for the German Academy for Further Education in Anaesthesiology (DAAF), which regularly organises both continuing education and specialist training programs for anaesthesiologists.

Co-publication together with the DGAI and the DAAF of the official journal "Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin"(Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine), which in addition to topics affecting further educational, also carries articles on current questions affecting occupational law and occupational policies.

The organs of the Professional Association are:

The Inner Presiding Board, comprising the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Representative of Anaesthesiologists Working in University Departments, the Representative of Anaesthesiologists working in hospitals, the Representative of Anaesthesiologists in Private Practice, the President of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, and the President of the German Academy for Further Education in Anaesthesiology.

The Committee comprising the Chairmen of the Regional Associations.

The General Assembly , which is held at least once a year - usually in association with a congress - and at which the President's Report is presented, elections are held, and decisions on fundamental questions taken.

The statutes of the BDA provide for Full Members (i.e. specialists in anaesthesiology and physicians undergoing specialist training in anaesthesiology) and Honorary Members.

At the present time (May 2008), the BDA has more than 15,000 members.

PaSOS
The Incident Reporting System of DGAI and BDA
www.pasos-ains.de

QUIPS
Quality Assurance in Postoperative Pain Therapy
www.quips-projekt.de

e-Learning
Portal for further training and continuing education in anaesthesiology, intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, pain therapy, and health economics.
www.my-bda.com

Reanimationsregister
Registering data of CPR patients in Germany
www.reanimationsregister.de

Hospitals: 2,139

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Beds: 523,824

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Number of anaesthesiology departments (2005): 1,278

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Number of ICU beds (2005): 23,117

-	including 14,956 surgical and interdisciplinary beds

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Number of specialists in anaesthesiology (2006): 17,418

-	including approximately in hospitals: 13,469
-	including approximately in private practice: 3,174

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An evaluation of 993 hospitals in Germany shows that more than 90% of all anaesthesiology departments have their own ICU. Nearly 80% have their own recovery room, and more than half of them a special pain therapy and emergency division.

Duration of specialist training (for board qualification): 5 years (minimum)

Additional possibilities for specialist training (as a particular competence) in:

• intensive care medicine
• pain medicine
• emergency medicine
• palliative medicine