Shortage of doctors in Bremen: Why the city is missing out on medical study places!

Shortage of doctors in Bremen: Why the city is missing out on medical study places!

There is a sense of alarm in Bremen: the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) is warning of a self-inflicted shortage of doctors. There is currently a shortage of at least 27 doctors in this country, while in Bremerhaven there is a shortage of 35 medical capacities. The burning question is how it got to this point and what can be done about it. According to [butenunbinnen.de](https://www.butenunbinnen.de/nachrichten/bremen-aerzte Mangel-bremerhaven-kv-100.html), a lack of places for medical courses is a decisive factor. The call for more study places and expanded collaborations is becoming louder and louder.

Although other federal states are taking action and increasing their number of medical study places, Bremen remains passive in this regard. In the long term, this inaction could lead to undersupply, which ultimately directly affects citizens. The lack of study places could be one of the reasons why Bremen does not train more doctors than the region needs.

Shortage of doctors in a nationwide context

A look at the nationwide situation shows: Overall, there are too few medical study places to counteract the impending shortage of doctors. According to an analysis by the Center for University Development (CHE), around 10,000 first-year students received a place in medicine for the winter semester of 2024/25, while around 20,000 applicants received nothing. This is a clear sign that studying medicine, although one of the most popular subjects in Germany, is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. In [Ärzteblatt.de](https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/analyse-zu-wenig-medizinstudienplatze-gegen-arzte Mangel-9d572d63-9af9-4538-9560-667b2f2fe081) it is also stated that Saxony-Anhalt, Hamburg, Hesse and Berlin are much better positioned here.

The causes of the inequality between the federal states are complex. High investment and operating costs for medical schools play a major role. With ongoing expenses of around 25,000 euros per student per year, many federal states cannot keep up. Even the most recent new medical schools cannot come close to meeting the increasing demand.

North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, has the most medical study places with 2,334 first semester students. There are 13 medical study places available for every 100,000 inhabitants, while Bremen and Brandenburg are affected by a lack of state-run study programs.

It's not just Bremen that has to act

The need to promote and expand the training of medical professionals is also essential from a German perspective. Countless family doctor positions, over 5,000, are currently unoccupied in Germany. According to a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation, a quarter of family doctors plan to stop working within the next five years. Fast action is required here!

The collaboration with the University of Oldenburg could be a positive step, but reality shows that only a few of the doctors trained there come to Bremen. To ensure that the Bremen population continues to be well cared for in the future, it is important to put an end to political inertia and finally create the necessary framework conditions for solid medical training. If this doesn't happen, the shortage of doctors could soon become part of everyday life in Bremen and seriously endanger the health care of citizens, as MDR reports.