Physician Assistants: New hope against the shortage of general practitioners in Lower Saxony!

Physician Assistants: New hope against the shortage of general practitioners in Lower Saxony!

A groundbreaking step is being taken in Lower Saxony to counteract the ongoing shortage of general practitioners in rural regions. From October 2025, a new course of study for Physician Assistants (PA) will be launched at a private university in Zeven, reports Medical Journal. The training aims to bring well-trained medical assistants into doctor's practices and thus support the few remaining general practitioners.

But what are Physician Assistants actually? These medical professionals have a university degree and can significantly relieve practices that are struggling under the burden of a large number of patients. You are able to take on numerous tasks, such as making home visits or supporting patient care. Despite their extensive knowledge, however, they do not work independently and are dependent on the support of doctors, often through modern telemedicine, such as video conferences.

Academic training for assistants

The new training in Zeven, which is offered in cooperation with the CBS International Business School, is aimed primarily at people with previous medical training, such as medical assistants, nursing staff and paramedics. This is another important step taken to get more people interested in medicine, which is particularly necessary given the impending shortage of doctors. Around 577 general practitioner positions are currently vacant in Lower Saxony; The situation looks particularly bleak in places like Bremerhaven, Celle, Münster and Syke NDR informed.

The training offer combines digital learning formats with practical phases on site, which makes it particularly attractive for working people and career changers. This hybrid model could make a decisive contribution to attracting new skilled workers and introducing them to the profession.

Financial support and future prospects

Financing measures to support training are also a key point. Medical practices can apply for funding from the Lower Saxony Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVN) to cover the costs of training their employees. This could be particularly important in underserved regions, as funded projects will initially be offered to 70 practices in rural areas.

The deployment of Physician Assistants is part of a comprehensive ten-point plan by the Lower Saxony state government to combat the shortage of doctors. In addition to training assistants, the number of medical study places is expected to continue to increase. Health Minister Dr. Andreas Philippi has emphasized the importance of strong primary care and underlines the need to address acute challenges in medicine, such as KVN reported.

Given demographic developments and the growing need for treatment, it is clear: the time to act is now. With the new training offering and the support from the state government, there is a good chance that Lower Saxony medical practices will soon be under less pressure and patient care will improve.