Table 1.
Annual minimum volume standards and their time of coming into effect in Germany
| Minimum volume | MVS* suggested by health insurance funds | MVS since 2004 | MVS since 2006 |
| Liver transplantation | 25/Hospital | 10/Hospital | 20/Hospital |
| Kidney transplantation | 40/Hospital | 20/Hospital | 25/Hospital |
| Stem cell transplantation | 20/Hospital | 12 +- 2 [10–14]/Hospital | 25/Hospital |
| Complex pancreatic intervention | 10/Hospital | 5/Hospital | 10/Hospital |
| Complex oesophageal intervention | 10/Hospital | 5/Hospital | 10/Hospital |
| Complex interventions of the mamma | 150/Hospital | - | - |
| Heart transplantation | 9/Hospital | - | - |
| Coronary surgery | 100/Hospital | - | - |
| Carotis-TEA | 20/Hospital | - | - |
| PCI | 150/Hospital | - | - |
| Total knee replacement | - | - | 50/Hospital** |
* Minimum volume standard per year
** interim arrangement: hospitals with 40–49 total knee replacements and good quality can participate in 2006