In the fight against the shortage of doctors in Saxony, the training of young doctors in Hungary, which began in 2013, is gradually bearing fruit. The first graduate, 32-year-old Maximilian Braun, is starting work as a GP in a practice in the Mosel district of Zwickau. Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) said that this example shows that, due to the long training period for doctors, securing medical care requires plenty of time in advance.
The need is great: according to the information, there are more than 370 vacancies for GPs across Saxony. Smaller towns and rural areas are particularly affected. In addition, according to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV), around 30 percent of GPs are over 60 years old and will be retiring in the foreseeable future. As a result, many successors to practices will be needed in the coming years.
