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Retired doctors: Free market consultations started in Hanover!
Doctors in Hanover have been offering free consultations at the weekly market since November 11, 2025 to advise citizens.
Retired doctors: Free market consultations started in Hanover!
Something special is happening at the weekly markets in Hanover. On November 11, 2025, three dedicated doctors started their free “market consultation” in the List district, an offer that brings a breath of fresh air to health advice. Heidi Rühmkorb-Claassen, an experienced gynecologist, the professor of social medicine and psychopathology Martin Hörning, and from mid-December the urologist Birgit Pfahbusch will be available to provide visitors with advice and support. The aim is not only to disseminate information, but also to offer active help where it is needed, reports NDR.
The weekly market provides an ideal setting. Here people can discuss health topics in a relaxed atmosphere. “It’s mainly women who seek advice, especially about medications and nutritional supplements,” says Rühmkorb-Claassen. An example of this is advice seeker Heike Löser, who found out about vaccination against cystitis and received valuable tips.
Enjoy the advice
The doctors created the service out of their deep joy in providing advice and the desire to pass on their knowledge. It is important, however, that this is not a medical treatment. The mobile consultation does not offer any therapies, diagnoses, vaccinations or blood tests and therefore does not want to compete with existing practices.
This project coincides with a rethinking of the healthcare system that has already been initiated in Lower Saxony. More than half of patients prefer to go to hospital immediately if they have health problems. The AOK is therefore urgently calling for restructuring in order to relieve the burden on emergency care. The state's action plan includes ten points, including the creation of more study places and better opportunities for career changers.
A look into the future
The problems in emergency care are of concern to many citizens. This innovative idea of organizing the market consultation hour attempts to clarify some of the smaller concerns and questions directly. Even if doctors do not address medical treatments, this could help in the long term to reduce the pressure on existing practices and offer citizens a platform to clarify health questions.
With the approach of maintaining a direct dialogue with people, the doctors make a valuable contribution to health education and show that there is also support outside the walls of the classic practice.