General practitioners in the crisis: rural regions before the pension emergency!
General practitioners in the crisis: rural regions before the pension emergency!
in Rhineland-Palatinate, medical care is alarming in many rural areas. Around 250 cash seats for general practitioners are currently vacant, a fact that significantly affects health care there. A current SWR survey shows that many general practitioners are overloaded in rural regions and that new patients can often no longer accept. In cities, on the other hand, patients can usually quickly get an appointment, which increases the gap between urban and rural areas. After contacting around 100 randomly selected doctor's practices, a clear trend revealed itself: While many urban family practices also accept new patients, the situation in the country looks very different.
Smaller cities such as Kirn and Kaisersesch are particularly affected, where the overload of the practices can be felt. Many family doctor's practices do not accept new patients here; Representing, waiting lists for new ones have been set up. This overload is reinforced by the high number of cold cases this season. In addition, some practices have introduced special regulations to only accept patients from the same location. This shows how complicated the situation has become in the country.challenges for country doctors
The problem is not only a short -term phenomenon, but also shows itself in other federal states. An example is Dr. Ralf-Achim Scheffel from Bad Elster in Saxony, who has been working as a family doctor for over 50 years. Despite his many years of experience, he has been looking for a successor for seven years in order not to have to close his practice. Scheffel, who maintains a close relationship with his patients, has so far received no feedback on his advertisements; Only once did a doctor show interest, but retired later.
This challenge reflects a larger trend: there are fewer and fewer young doctors: inside that want to settle in rural regions. In the event of motion, flexible working hours and the preferred job position play a central role. In Saxony, more than 30% of the general practitioners are: older than 60 years. In the next few years, a significant part of the general practitioner will retire: which could further tighten the situation.
demographic changes and solutions
The demographic changes in Germany contribute to the problem of general practitioner. According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, 10,000 doctors are already missing in the country. Rural regions in particular are severely affected by aging and a shortage of doctors. Studies show that the increasing need for medical services is increasingly increasing through demographic change and increasing life expectancy. Medical care centers (MVZ) are therefore increasingly discussed as a possible solution to maintain the supply in structurally weak areas.
MVZ can be founded by various providers such as doctors, hospitals or municipalities. The number of MVZ has risen continuously since 2004, but the hoped -for improvement in medical care has so far failed to materialize. The young doctors also show an increasing interest in flexible employment relationships. These new models could play an important role in ensuring basic medical care in the future.
The health systems in both Rhineland-Palatinate and in other federal states are therefore faced with massive challenges that will not only make overload but also structural changes necessary. The discussion about funding measures such as the land doctor quota is already in full swing to create new medical study places for prospective country doctors and to offer them a long -term perspective in rural care. But the question remains whether such initiatives will be sufficient to solve the urgent problems in general medical care.
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