Land doctor program in Hessen: The key to the new health care!

Land doctor program in Hessen: The key to the new health care!

On January 23, 2025, the new application round of the country doctor program begins in Hesse, which was launched in 2022. The program aims to close the supply gaps in rural areas and is aimed at medical students who want to work as general practitioners or specialists in health offices. According to hessenschau.de Interested parties also received access to medical studies without the previously required grade average. Instead, experience in healthcare, for example through training or voluntary work, is considered important.

In the universities of Gießen, Marburg and Frankfurt, around eight percent of the medical study places are reserved for this program. The graduates undertake to practice in sub -supplied regions for at least ten years. Last year, 76 students took part in the country doctor's program, which shows the efforts to win young medicine for rural areas.

supply gaps in rural areas

Medical and nursing care represents an essential component of general interest. Especially in rural regions, the availability of health care facilities is limited compared to urban areas, which according to bpb.de leads to long journey routes for patients. This problem is increased by a lower population density and the associated large catchment areas for medical service providers.

Another problem is the lack of pediatricians in rural areas. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for example, 10,500 children and adolescents live more than 20 kilometers from the next pediatrician. This spatial distance means that children less often use medical help. General practitioners often take care of care, although they do not specialize in pediatrics.

Innovations to close the supply gaps

In order to close the existing gaps, innovative care concepts are necessary. These include the cooperation between practices, the use of telemedical connections and the division of labor between different health professions. Telemedicine shows great potential to offer health services regardless of the location and thus improve the accessibility in rural regions.

In addition, integrated planning of medical care in general interest is required in order to ensure basic health care in rural areas. For example, future hospital operations could include fewer beds, but more medical offers.
Important factors are not only transport and location planning, but also the cooperation between the various sectors of health care to ensure holistic support for the population.

conclusion: urgent need for action

The health state of the rural population is often shaped by a higher average age and an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. This requires interdisciplinary approaches and increased cooperation between the various health professions. According to bzga.de , health care in rural areas is often restricted by physical, socio-economic and cultural influencing factors. The need for regionalized health notifications and networked health services is becoming more and more urgent to adequately counter the current challenges.