Moosburg's pediatrician emergency: New doctor is urgently looking for support!

Moosburg's pediatrician emergency: New doctor is urgently looking for support!

In the Upper Bavarian city of Moosburg, the problem of medical care has become particularly pressing. On December 7, 2024, pediatrician Olaf Vorbeck closed his practice after 19 years and left a gap that is difficult to close. Despite months of searching for a successor, no suitable solution has been found so far. The city with around 20,000 inhabitants now stands without a pediatrician, which is a significant challenge for many families.

Vorbeck, who was the only pediatrician in the city, increasingly rely on social media in order to draw attention to the urgency of the search for a successor. In the past few months he has published almost 60 videos on Instagram to win potential prospective customers. But despite these efforts, the resonance failed to do so, as the Merkur reported.

a new interest for practice

recently a qualified specialist in pediatric and adolescent medicine who is willing to move to Moosburg. This news was confirmed by the city's management on Wednesday. However, the interest woman needs support because she is a mother of a little daughter and faces challenges in the care. In order to successfully conduct practice, colleagues who can help out on individual days or step in on call are also sought

The pediatrician service in the region is not the only one. The new health networks show that the shortage of doctors in Germany, especially in rural areas, is a growing problem. By 2030, a lack of 10,000 general practitioners will be expected, which endangers the medical care of many people. The average age of the practicing doctors was 54.1 years old in 2022, and many of them are about to retire.

consequences for the patients

The nearest pediatric practices are located in Erding, Freising and Landshut, which are far from Moosburg. Doctors in the area, like the pediatrician Dominik Ewald from Regensburg, explain that the practices are already working on the limit and hardly any new patients can take on. In the region between Regensburg and Landshut, only one and a half pediatricians are available, which further exacerbates the situation for many families.

The problem is also reflected in the demands of specialist associations. Ewald, which is also chairman of the national association of pediatricians, appeals to politics to create more training positions for doctors. Klaus Holetschek and the General Practitioners Association also require measures to strengthen the general practitioner care, because many general practitioners cannot take care of children due to their high stress.

The view of improvement remains uncertain. Without quick countermeasures, this threatens out for many practices in the region, while at the same time health care is endangered for the population. Those responsible must act urgently to secure medical care in Moosburg and beyond.