Ostalbkreis fights against a lack of general practitioners: Cooperative IpfMed founded!

Ostalbkreis fights against a lack of general practitioners: Cooperative IpfMed 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 State indicator In the region, the arithmetic family doctor cover is 94 percent, but at the same time concerns about the long-term ensuring medical care are expressed.

Markus Knoblauch, the CEO of the cooperative, emphasizes that the IPFMED will specifically take on or found medical care centers. The special thing about the concept? Freelance as well as the expensive takeover or establishment of your own practice are not on the agenda. Instead, the cooperative offers doctors who want to work in rural areas, opportunities or part -time work. This could also relieve the high number of doctors over the age of 60 who practice in the Ostalb district, since the replica of the household seats becomes 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 general care, but also calls on the municipalities to become active. A business share costs 2000 euros, and the municipalities have to purchase minimum quotas of up to four shares depending on the population. However, no municipality may keep more than eight shares, which should ensure a fair distribution. The district itself supports the foundation, but is not participated as a member.

The situation in the Ostalbkreis

The concerns of the district office in Aalen with regard to sustainable ensuring the degree of care show that there is a need for action. Around half of the medical practitioners from the region are at the age of over 60 and it has already been recognized how difficult it is to fill the house doctor's seats in the region. It is time to break new ground and to ensure a solid future of 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.