Diagnosis of doctor shortage: Saxony wants to ensure supply

Saxony is facing a difficult operation when it comes to future healthcare provision. "People are getting older and at the same time have different demands on medical care," explained Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD). In some places, people would not be able to get an appointment with a doctor in a timely manner despite a care rate of over 100 percent. Ensuring medical care remains an ongoing task.

Report updated until 2035

The Ministry of Social Affairs, which is also responsible for health, had a report on the development of outpatient care and doctor demand in Saxony up to 2035 updated in 2016. The Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Germany (Zi) took a close look at 180 indicators, including the age structure of doctors, case numbers and the distance to the nearest practice. This should enable needs to be assessed at an early stage.

Focus is primarily on rural areas

Creating good framework conditions is particularly important in rural regions, emphasized Köpping. These include working conditions that enable young doctors to start their careers and support them in their specialist training. "Being a doctor is a great, fulfilling profession. Our message is that those interested should receive the best possible support so that they can enter the profession."

More study places, mentoring programs and telemedicine

The experts recommend, among other things, an expansion of medical study places and programs to tie general practitioners to a specific region, for example. Further training is seen as a decisive factor in attracting young doctors to take over a practice, for example. Telemedicine and mobile services could also help to close gaps in care in rural areas, according to the report.

Less bureaucracy and more time for patients

The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) referred, among other things, to the new concept of "care practices" with video consultations. There is still a need for action to make outpatient work more attractive for doctors and existing practices, emphasized KV Vice President Sylvia Krug and also called for a reduction in bureaucracy in order to have more time for patients and the use of modern technology to relieve the burden on practices.

Doctors' resources are becoming increasingly scarce

"The diagnosis is well known: Medical resources are becoming increasingly scarce," emphasized Zi CEO Dominik von Stillfried. As capacities decrease, care must be adapted to meet increasing demand. "What we need for this are targeted measures to ensure high-quality patient care close to home in the future."

By 2030, Saxony will be the federal state with the oldest population

According to Köpping (SPD), demographic development remains the relevant topic. "This not only affects the Saxon population itself, but also the medical profession." At least half of all general practitioners, internists, urologists, surgeons and orthopaedists are now aged 55 and over. An increase in the older population is expected almost everywhere in Saxony. "From 2030, Saxony will be one of the oldest federal states in Germany in terms of the average age of the population."

More and more doctors want to work part-time

According to Köpping, the detailed evaluation of the study enables a comprehensive and precise representation of the supply requirements in the Saxon regions. The future demand for doctors will be higher than the available supply. This also takes into account the fact that more and more doctors are working part-time.

"In 1990, we had around 12,000 doctors in Saxony with a population of around 4.7 million. Today, there are around 19,000 doctors for a population of 4 million," Köpping explained. This not only shows that the demand for medical care has changed drastically, but also that many doctors are sharing jobs. For every doctor who retires, 2.3 heads will be needed in future to provide the same level of service, she said.