Shortage of doctors in Brandenburg: 170 dentists are missing, is there a risk of undersupply?

Shortage of doctors in Brandenburg: 170 dentists are missing, is there a risk of undersupply?

In Brandenburg, health services are facing a serious challenge. The shortage of dentists and general practitioners is reaching alarming proportions. Loud zwp online There is currently a shortage of around 170 dentists, while around 320 general practitioner positions are unfilled due to a lack of suitable successors. These worrying figures come from a response from the Ministry of Health in Potsdam to a request from state parliament member Daniela Oeynhausen (AfD).

In 21 cities in particular, there are fears of a shortage of primary care physicians by the end of 2024. This situation could also extend to specialists. What is particularly explosive is the fact that 320 family doctor positions in Brandenburg were already vacant last year. There is a risk of a shortage of dermatologists in nine cities, gynecologists in five and pediatricians and ear, nose and throat doctors in several more.

Aging doctors and bureaucratic hurdles

The average age of the approximately 1,270 contracted dentists in Brandenburg is 53.9 years. In fact, a quarter of these doctors are over the age of 60, and by 2030 it is estimated that around 470 dentists will retire. This alarming obsolescence is exacerbated by high bureaucratic requirements. Eberhard Steglich, CEO of the Brandenburg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists, warns that a loss of 25% of dentists can be expected in the next five to ten years. Bureaucracy is cited as one of the main reasons for this development, with regulations for cleaning and sterilizing medical instruments and requirements for barrier-free practices making work even more difficult, according to Jürgen Herbert, President of the State Dental Association.

Another problem is the shortage of dental assistants, which makes the situation even worse. The fears that gaps in dental care could arise, especially in rural areas, are already a reality. In Cottbus, for example, new patients are no longer acceptable.

Level of coverage and rural challenges

In Brandenburg there are large regional differences in the level of care provided by dentists. The Potsdam-Mittelmark district has the lowest density of dentists with 81.1%, while Frankfurt (Oder) is considered oversupplied with 142.2%. These differences are a typical feature of rural health care. Loud bpb.de Access to healthcare services in rural areas is often severely limited, which is due to low population density and long travel distances.

The challenges exist not only in dental practices, but also among general practitioners. Outpatient care structures are often concentrated in larger cities, which means rural regions suffer. Here, residents often have a greater need for medical care and at the same time are confronted with longer journeys. Innovative care concepts such as telemedicine and mobile service providers could help close the existing gaps and improve accessible medical care.

In summary, it can be said that Brandenburg is facing many challenges in healthcare that not only affect patients, but also the entire medical community. Without appropriate measures to promote young talent and to deregulate bureaucratic hurdles, the situation could worsen further and significantly affect the population's health care.