Ostalbkreis is fighting against a shortage of family doctors: IpfMED cooperative founded!

Ostalbkreis is fighting against a shortage of family doctors: IpfMED cooperative founded!

In times when medical care in rural areas is constantly being discussed, six municipalities in the Bopfingen, Ries and Härtsfeld area are setting an example. You founded the IpfMED cooperative to counteract the shortage of family doctors. This step is particularly important because it is loud Government Gazette In the region, the calculated family doctor coverage is 94 percent, but at the same time concerns are expressed about the long-term security of medical care.

Markus Knoblauch, the cooperative's CEO, emphasizes that IpfMED will specifically take over or establish medical care centers. What’s special about the concept? Freelancing and the expensive acquisition or establishment of your own practice are not on the agenda. Instead, the cooperative offers employment opportunities or part-time work to doctors who want to work in rural areas. This could also ease the burden on the high number of doctors over 60 years of age who practice in the Ostalbkreis, as filling family doctor positions is becoming increasingly challenging.

Founding and goals of the cooperative

Josef Bühler, authorized representative of the cooperative, spoke at the founding meeting in the Schranne in Bopfingen and presented the key goals. One aspect that particularly stands out in connection with the founding: more and more young doctors are striving for employment and shy away from self-employment. This is also related to the increasing proportion of women in medicine and the need to combine career and family.

The IpfMED cooperative not only brings creative solutions to primary care, but also calls on municipalities to take action. A share in the business costs 2,000 euros, and the municipalities must purchase a minimum quota of up to four shares depending on the number of inhabitants. However, no municipality is allowed to hold more than eight shares, which is intended to ensure fair distribution. The district itself supports the founding, but is not involved as a member.

The situation in the Ostalbkreis

The district office in Aalen's concerns about ensuring the level of supply in the long term shows that there is a need for action. Around half of the region's medical practitioners are over 60 years old and it has already been recognized how difficult it is to fill family doctor positions in the region. It is time to break new ground and ensure a solid future for medical care.

In the Ostalbkreis there are now four cooperatives that were founded in different regions for the population. From the cooperative for the eastern district to the offers for Ellwangen, the Swabian Forest and the Aalen area - a lot is happening when it comes to medical care. And with IpfMED, there is now another piece of the puzzle that could play a decisive role in shaping the future of medical care in this region.