General practitioners wanted: Thuringian municipalities start scholarship offensive!

General practitioners wanted: Thuringian municipalities start scholarship offensive!

If you look at the current situation in Thuringia, you might think that general medicine is a hot topic. The interest of medical students in specialist training and working as family doctors is increasing. In particular, your own freedom and independence in practicing your job play a central role. An alarming picture emerges in rural regions of Thuringia: the demand for general practitioners is extremely high, and many of them are desperately looking for successors. Mayors and district administrators are concerned about the acute shortage of doctors, which may become more dramatic.

In Thuringia, many students from the region stay, while those from urban areas are less likely to show interest in settling in rural areas. The option of owning your own practice often remains in your mind, but clinical experience is considered essential before you take the step into self-employment. The general conditions for medical students are considered modern and good, but there are prejudices that are particularly held by students from the West. These prejudices could influence the decision to settle, such as MDR reported.

Scholarship programs as a solution?

Another step towards combating the shortage of doctors are the new scholarships. Five municipalities in Thuringia have already launched their own programs to retain medical graduates. These include the districts of Altenburger Land, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Kyffhäuser, Sonneberg and the independent city of Gera. The amount of the scholarship varies between 300 and 750 euros per month, depending on the municipality, and is paid out over a period of five to six and a half years. The scholarship holders must commit to working in the region for several years. This sounds promising - such a program was initiated in Schmalkalden-Meiningen three years ago, and seven students have taken part so far. We will send you 24 reports on these initiatives that aim to make an important contribution to student retention.

There are currently 16 general practitioner positions unfilled in Gera and 117 nationwide. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians welcomes the commitment of the municipalities, but warns that the positive effects of these scholarship programs could only become visible in 10 to 12 years. The shortage of doctors is far from being solved.

Long-term perspectives and challenges

The situation benefits from the fact that the admission requirements for medical courses in Germany prove to be extremely restrictive. In the 2021/22 winter semester there were 10,000 study places, which received over 45,000 applicants. This shows the high demand for young medical talent. However, many medical students want more flexible working time models and struggle with the high level of bureaucratic effort that comes with setting up a branch. The reasons for the shortage of doctors include the unattractive working conditions in rural regions and the high workload. According to a survey, more than 75% of hospitals surveyed are having problems filling their vacancies. The scientific monthly magazine points out that there could be a shortage of around 11,000 general practitioners in Germany by 2035.

At a time when the healthcare system is under pressure, we must actively face the challenge of attracting young doctors to rural regions. The scholarship programs are a first step, but far-reaching reforms are required to ensure adequate medical care in the long term. The commitment of the municipalities is valuable and could be a ray of hope for the future of family medicine in Thuringia.