Specialists in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Health Minister sounds the alarm!

Specialists in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Health Minister sounds the alarm!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, especially in the Neubrandenburg/Mecklenburg-Strelitz region, the situation in the health sector continues to deteriorate. The shortage of specialists, especially ophthalmologists and dermatologists, is causing increasing concern among citizens. There are currently 2.5 vacant positions for dermatologists in the region, making access to necessary treatments difficult. Health Minister Stefanie Drese has therefore taken the initiative to enable more outpatient treatment in hospitals. The aim is to effectively combat the shortage of specialists. However, these steps are not without controversy, as the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians expresses concerns: Many hospitals lack the necessary specialist departments, which makes it difficult to implement the plans.

As the Baltic Sea newspaper reports, medical care in the state has been an issue for years that has produced numerous solutions. These include, among other things, the use of telemedicine and mobile medical practices to close the gap in care. However, the challenges are great, especially in the context of general developments in the German healthcare system.

Outpatient care as key?

The call for better outpatient care is becoming louder and louder. A study of medical journal shows that the medical sector in Germany is facing major challenges: a shortage of skilled workers, demographic change and cost pressure are draining resources while at the same time demand is increasing. The coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP envisages expanding outpatient medical services - a step that could both relieve the burden on hospitals and improve patients.

A survey shows that around 9% of fully inpatient cases could theoretically be treated on an outpatient basis, which indicates considerable potential for relieving the burden on hospitals. Especially in rural regions such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, outpatient care could help to secure and improve medical care. However, questions remain about remuneration and the necessary structural reforms that urgently need to be clarified.

The situation as a whole

In a nationwide comparison, how ZDF reported, shows that despite a record number of doctors, there is a perceived shortage in Germany. More and more trained doctors are choosing to work part-time or switch to other professions. The shortage of skilled workers is exacerbated by an aging medical workforce and the fact that young doctors in particular value a good work-life balance. In 2023, only 85 percent of family doctors will work full-time - a dangerous trend for health care in the country.

Women now make up a larger proportion of the medical profession, which is leading to changes as they often leave the profession to meet family responsibilities. The balancing act between work and private life remains a challenge that is also noticeable in hospitals. This development could lead to a real problem for medical care in the coming years, which should not be underestimated in an aging society.

In this context it is clear: solutions are needed. The Pirate Party's proposal to lower the 5 percent threshold for entry into the state parliament to 3 percent could be aimed in the same direction in order to promote new ideas and approaches to medical care. Urgent measures are required to secure the next generation of doctors and to optimize the distribution of resources in the country. Whether these steps will be enough remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: a lot depends on the future political and health direction in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.