Looking for general practitioners: Thuringian municipalities start scholarship offensive!

Looking for general practitioners: 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 a family doctor increases. In particular, your own freedom and self -employment play a central role in professional practice. In rural regions of Thuringia, there is an alarming picture: the demand for general practitioners is extremely high, and many of them desperately search for successors. Mayor and district administrators are concerned about the acute shortage of doctors, which may increase in drama.

In Thuringia, many students from the region remain, while the rare interest in a branch in rural areas from urban areas show. Often the option of your own practice remains in your memory, but Clinical experience is considered essential before you take the step into self -employment. The framework conditions for medical students are considered modern and good, but there are prejudices that are entertained by students from the West. These prejudices could influence the decision for a establishment, such as MDR

scholarship programs as a solution?

Another step to combat the shortage of doctors are the new funding grants. Five municipalities in Thuringia have already put on their own programs to bind medical graduates. These include the districts of Altenburger Land, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Kyffhäuser, Sonneberg and the independent city of Gera. The amount of the scholarships 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 themselves to work in the region for several years. This sounds promising-such a program was initiated in Schmalkalden-Meiningen three years ago, and so far seven students have participated. We will send you 24 to make an important contribution to the pupil.

In Gera there are currently 16 household seats vacant, and there are even 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 solved.

long -term perspectives and challenges

The situation benefits that the admission conditions for medical courses in Germany prove to be extremely restrictive. In the winter semester 2021/22 there were 10,000 study places to which over 45,000 applicants came. This shows the high demand for young medical youngsters. However, many medical students want more flexible working time models and groaning under the high bureaucratic effort associated with a branch. The reasons for the shortage of doctors are also the unattractive working conditions in rural regions and the high amount of work. According to a survey, more than 75% of the hospitals surveyed have problems filling their vacancies. The scientific monthly magazine points out that around 11,000 general practitioners could be missing in Germany by 2035.

at a time when the health system is under pressure, we have to actively face the challenge of gaining young doctors for 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 bright spot for the future of family medicine in Thuringia.