Medical care in Waldbröl: MVZ start is delayed again!

Medical care in Waldbröl: MVZ start is delayed again!

The Oberbergischer Kreis is currently in a health dilemma. In the region, especially in the Waldbröl planning area, the supply of resident doctors is strained. The current figures are worrying: the supply rate for Waldbröl, Nümbrecht and Morsbach is only 76.4 percent, which is considered inadequate according to common standards and the area therefore runs the risk of slipping into an undersupply. [oberberg-aktuell] reports that Nümbrecht even founded a GmbH to establish its own medical care center (MVZ), but put this plan on hold for the time being due to the lack of general practitioners. Morsbach is also planning an MVZ, but the road there could be rocky.

In May, the Oberbergischer Kreis and the Oberberg Clinic announced that they would open an MVZ at the hospital in Waldbröl. However, the start date originally planned for the beginning of October could not be met. Preparations, however, are continuing and the hospital premises are expected to be completed in November. Staff acquisition is therefore in full swing, with discussions being held with potential new general practitioners. The aim is to offer jobs to external specialists and not to doctors already employed at the clinic. Apparently, these doctors will be able to work at the MVZ later on an hourly basis, which fuels hope that the situation will improve.

The problem of doctor's seats

But the problem goes far beyond the lack of medical care centers. In recent years, fewer and fewer family doctors have found replacements for outgoing practices, leading to a worrying increase in vacant doctor's offices. The reality is that the remaining practices are often working at the limit of their capacity. The average age of general practitioners in the Oberbergischer Kreis is 58 years, which further underlines the change in the age structure. In the Gummersbach planning district, only 1.3% of family doctors are under 40 years old. [hausarzt-oberberg] notes that around 75 general practitioners are expected to retire due to age in the next ten years, which could affect around 90,000 patients.

The forecasts are alarming: a lack of family doctors and a disproportionately increasing proportion of chronically ill people are leading to a growing discrepancy between the demand for medical care and the available capacity. This chaos does not only affect rural regions, as many large cities also face similar challenges. In its supply report, the North Rhine Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians warns of impending undersupply scenarios by 2030 if there are no young doctors.

Challenges in rural areas

Things are particularly complicated in rural areas. There is a lack of medical facilities there, and the low population density leads to long journeys, which makes treating patients even more difficult. Older people often have a higher burden of illness and require more medical and nursing care - a circumstance that puts additional pressure on existing resources. Innovative care solutions, such as collaborations between different health professions or telemedicine services, are increasingly necessary to improve the situation. [bpb] emphasizes how important it is to integrate medical planning into general public services.

In summary, it can be said that the Oberbergischer Kreis is facing a huge challenge. The upcoming steps in the establishment of the new MVZ in Waldbröl could represent a start. But without real reform in the training, recruitment and networking of doctors, little will change in the tense care landscape.