26 prospective general practitioners are starting their winter studies in Saxony-Anhalt!

26 prospective general practitioners are starting their winter studies in Saxony-Anhalt!

Today, July 3, 2025, it became official: The country doctor quota in Saxony-Anhalt once again lives up to its reputation and enables 26 aspiring doctors to start studying human medicine. Health Minister Petra Grimm-Benne congratulated the students, 19 of whom come from her own federal state, on their successful completion of the selection process. This good news makes people sit up and take notice and shows that the initiative to promote medical care in rural areas is bearing fruit. The students will begin their studies at the universities of Magdeburg and Halle in the coming winter semester, with a clear obligation: after completing their studies and further training as specialists, they must practice for at least ten years in regions of Saxony-Anhalt that are underserved.

This measure has been established in recent years as a successful model that not only produces urgently needed family doctors, but also improves the quality of medical care in rural areas. In addition to the 26 places that were allocated through the rural doctor quota, five more places are added through the public health officer quota, which are tied to a later job in the public health service. The response to this model has been consistently positive: over 130 students have applied as part of the advance quota, and the advance quota will be increased from 32 to 38 study places annually. This means that six more students are taking advantage of the opportunity to start in the winter semester.

A new career profile in medicine

What actually characterizes the country doctor quota? In contrast to the central admission process of the Foundation for University Admissions, the selection criteria for the rural doctor quota take greater account of previous professional experience in the health sector and personal social skills. This means that even applicants with less good Abitur grades can enter medical training without hesitation. Another plus point: every student receives a family doctor as a mentor who accompanies them during their studies and enables them to gain initial practical experience. The aim is to optimally prepare prospective doctors for the challenges of a general practice in rural areas.

Minister Grimm-Benne, who is also responsible for labor, social affairs and equality, sees the rural doctor quota as a significant step in the right direction. “To work as a doctor, you not only need a high school diploma, but social skills and experience in dealing with patients are also very important,” says Grimm-Benne. Dr. Jörg Böhme, Chairman of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Saxony-Anhalt, also expressed his positive opinion about the acquisition of new general practitioners and sees the best opportunities to ensure medical care even in difficult regions.

A look into the future

Saxony-Anhalt has positioned itself as a pioneer in this form of allocating study places since the 2020/2021 winter semester. More and more prospective rural doctors have been recruited, many of whom come directly from the state. The high response to the tenders for the rural doctor quota to date underlines the success of this model, which could also serve as an example for other federal states. It is important for the next applicants to know: The application deadline for the winter semester 2025/26 is March 31, 2025. So anyone who is interested in this exciting and future-proof career should find out more on the website landarztquote-sachsen-anhalt.de in good time.