New funding for midwives: Support for Brandenburg's obstetrics!

New funding for midwives: Support for Brandenburg's obstetrics!

Brandenburg, Deutschland - On July 10, 2025, the Brandenburg Ministry of Health presented a newly revised midwife funding directive. This was aimed at the needs of midwives with a lot of empathy to support their entry into freelance and to secure obstetrics in the country permanently. The guideline came into force retrospectively on January 1, 2025 and remains valid until the end of 2026. With an annual funding budget of 250,000 euros, robust impulses are to be set.

midwives who practice their job in Brandenburg or accompany an apprenticeship here can now apply for funding applications. This funding applies to various aspects, such as the accompaniment of trainees, the establishment of their own practices or birthplaces, as well as the return to obstetrics or participation in further training measures. The need is noticeable, because the number of midwives operated has increased by over 40% to 249 in the past 13 years, while the freelance midwives increased from around 400 in 2010 to around 520 in 2023. A total of around 625 midwives in Brandenburg are currently active, which is a promising development for obstetrics. [Cityreport] (https://cityreport.pnr24-online.de/weiter-Developed- Directive-Foerung-von-Hebammen-im-Brandenburg-in-Kraft-geten/) that these positive numbers are a sign of the growing need for high-quality obstetrical care.

support offers in detail

The new funding guideline provides for a wide range of support options. This means that midwives that found a practice or a birthplace can be funded with up to 20,000 euros. There is up to 7,500 euros to found your own practice without obstetrics. In addition, the state also participates in further training measures: up to 80% of the costs for further training offers for quality assurance or returning can be refunded. It should be noted that the applications must be submitted by December 31, 2024. This gives midwives the opportunity to develop sustainably in their professional career. Midwives Brandenburg emphasizes that this is of great relevance for both old hands and for newbies.

The promotion of external rate is particularly valuable, which comprises a flat rate of 20 euros per day and a maximum of 1,200 euros for a twelve -week externat. This enables midwives that are trained in schools outside of Brandenburg to deepen their knowledge in a practical way. A clear way to be able to bring the training directly into practice. This is a crucial step for many of them to be able to establish themselves nationwide. emphasizes that these measures offer not only financial but also emotional support.

Current challenges and outlook

Although the numbers of the midwives in Brandenburg are increasing, they also face challenges. The birth rates show a decline, from 19,029 births in 2021 to only 15,885 in 2023. In order to reverse these trends, it is all the more important that the midwives can concentrate on their core competencies and experience the necessary support. The participation in numerous services that go beyond obstetrics, such as in pregnant provision or puerperium care, shows that the midwives are much more than just obstetrics and the comprehensive medical and social support for women in this special phase of life.

The newly implemented guideline is a crucial step towards improved support and qualification of midwives in Brandenburg. This should not only ensure professional existence, but also ensure the quality of obstetrics in the country in the long term. The coming years will show which fruits will take these measures.