Struggling for GPs in Lower Saxony: 523 Practices Vacant in Key Cities
With hundreds of general practitioners (GPs) missing, cities like Salzgitter, Delmenhorst, Meppen, and Syke in Lower Saxony, Germany, are feeling the strain. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Lower Saxony (KVN) reported 523 vacant GP practices across the state on July 1, 2023, with new owners being sought to fill these positions.
KVN Chairman Mark Barjenbruch warned that securing medical and psychotherapeutic care is becoming increasingly challenging. The situation is dire, with patients possibly facing longer journeys and waiting times in the future.
The KVN proposes incentives for those taking over GP practices in underserved regions. Those opting for a practice in Bremerhaven or Syke might even be offered a turnover guarantee, and doctors in certain regions can apply for grants between 60,000 and 75,000 euros.
The shortage of GPs isn't isolated to Lower Saxony. The President of the Lower Saxony Medical Association, Martina Wenker, expressed concern for rural areas like Meppen, where there are 17 vacant practices. The issue stretches beyond GPs, with pediatricians and emergency doctors also in short supply.
Both KVN and the Medical Association have called on the state for years to provide more medical study places. The rural doctor quota, introduced by the state government, isn't expected to improve the situation before 2035.
The quota provides 60 study places in human medicine in Lower Saxony through a merit-based system. With a commitment to practice as a GP in an underserved area for ten years after graduation, prospective doctors can further their studies more affordably.
In Hanover, a GPS system guides doctors to the most needed practices in the region, aiming to ease the shortage of GPs in the city.
Enrichment insights:
Strategies to attract and retain GPs in rural areas include:
- Rural doctor quota programs - like the one in Saxony, offering committed applicants to study medicine without needing top grades in exchange for working in rural areas.
- Incentives for new doctors: higher salaries, financial assistance for relocation, student loan forgiveness, professional development, work-life balance, and community engagement.
- Streamlining administrative processes – simplifying licensing and certification for new doctors.
- Support for family medicine – specialized training programs and telemedicine services.
- Collaboration with local authorities – developing comprehensive healthcare plans catering to rural communities.
By implementing these strategies and incentives, Lower Saxony can retain and attract more GPs, thereby addressing the urgent need for healthcare professionals in these rural areas.
