Prevention (prophylaxis) means measures to prevent diseases. The statutory health insurers offer special screening programmes for the early detection of diseases. There are separate programmes for newborns, children, adolescents, women and men.
Similar rules apply to private health insurers (PKV).
These examinations aim to detect diseases that are common in the population at an early stage, so that timely treatment can cure them (e.g. bowel cancer) or reduce their consequences (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure).