Lack of doctors in Berlin: Eastern districts particularly badly affected!

Lack of doctors in Berlin: Eastern districts particularly badly affected!

Health care in Berlin faces a serious challenge: the lack of doctors reaches alarming proportions, especially in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Treptow-Köpenick and Lichtenberg. The non -profit foundation Health recently published a map of Germany for general care that illustrates the precarious Situation in the capital. In 2024, a family doctor looks after an average of 1521 inhabitants, which makes Berlin the city with the highest number of patients per family doctor. Berliner Zeitung Brandenburg with 1371 and Bavaria with 1244 inhabitants per doctor are above the nationwide average.

The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) reports that many medical points remain vacant, with general practitioners particularly affected. There are currently 118 free cash seats in the said eastern districts, which drops the degree of supply in these regions significantly below 100 percent. Examples of the 86 free seats in Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Lichtenberg as well as 42 in Treptow-Köpenick.

aging medical profession and empty practices

Another worrying trend is the old age of many practicing doctors: 37 percent of general practitioners are over 60 years old and are about to retire. This exacerbates the situation in an already tense health care. According to the current numbers of the KV, a total of 73 general practitioners are available for 100,000 inhabitants, which is also strikingly low compared to other federal states.

The causes of the shortage of doctors are diverse. In addition to the aging of the medical profession, there are also changes in everyday work: More and more younger doctors are opting for employment instead of independence and work. This applies in particular to women who, due to family obligations, are more likely to excrete their job.

political measures and solutions

To improve the situation, politicians have already taken some measures. In February 2023, the budget limits for general practitioners and in April 2023 for pediatricians were lifted. The KV is planning the creation of 21.5 additional cash seats for pediatricians, which have not yet been filled. The Senate Health Management supports the promotion of integrated health centers with 400,000 euros per year.

In addition, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) plans to better design the remuneration for general practitioners in order to create incentives for a practical takeover. According to the KV spokeswoman Laura Vele, this is regarded as a necessary appreciation for the work of the general practitioners. But despite these efforts, it remains questionable whether the formation of trust in health care is sustainable. A persistent shortage of doctors could endanger health and the well -being of the Berlin population in the long term.