Lack of doctors in Hameln: Citizens finally demand clear solutions!

Lack of doctors in Hameln: Citizens finally demand clear solutions!

Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Deutschland - In Germany, there is a worrying trend in healthcare, which is particularly noticeable in rural regions. In Hameln, for example, the region is not officially considered to be under -supplied, but people report considerable difficulties to find a family doctor. The reporter Dorothee Balzereit from the Dewezet Demand for medical care that already exceeds the offer of the resident doctors.

A concrete example illustrates the urgency of the situation: 700 people are waiting for an appointment at the ophthalmologist in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Especially the allocation of appointments for specialists is difficult, which leads to new patients to find the fear not to find a suitable family doctor. The problem requires a rethink, as Balzereit stimulates. Cities should openly address this topic and not only trust in needs.

challenges in demand planning

The German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine emphasizes that doctors should settle where the need is highest. As the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians explains, the needs planning stipulates that general practitioners and fundamentally supplied specialists can be reached. At the same time, specialized doctors should be easily accessible in central locations for the surrounding area.

Demographic development, in particular the aging of the population, makes an increased need for care. In regions with a high number of older patients, more doctors are to be settled. Nevertheless, there are difficulties: The reform of the 2012 needs planning gave the health insurance associations (KVEN) the opportunity to deviate regionally from nationwide requirements. This flexible approach should ensure that special local needs can be better taken into account.

increase in part -time work and care needs

The Federal Medical Association also warns of an increasing shortage of doctors in the coming years. A forecast shows that the need for doctors will increase considerably due to demographic development and age -related retirement. Ellen Lundershausen, Vice President of the BÄK, emphasizes that the number of working doctors in 2021 was 416,120, which means an increase of 1.7 %, but is inadequate to close the gaps in care.

Another concern is the increase in part -time work among doctors. In 2021, 31 % of doctors have already worked part -time compared to only 4 % in 2009. The reasons for this development are diverse and range from high workload to family obligations. This means that 1.2 people are currently necessary to fill a full -time position.

The medical representatives therefore call for urgent measures, such as increasing medical study places by at least 6,000 and a reduction in bureaucracy in healthcare. There is a clear need for action on the part of politics to prevent the increase in supply bottlenecks, especially in rural regions and to avert the lack of doctors.

The current situation requires a common approach of politics, medical profession and society to bring medical care in Germany to an acceptable level. The existing challenge can only be countered by sustainable solutions.