Germany's healthcare paradox: Number of doctors rises, but patient access declines

The number of doctors running practices in Germany has increased, yet almost half of them work part-time, which limits the time available for patients. Andreas Gassen, Chairman of the Board of Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV), reported on the growing problem of insufficient availability of medical staff despite their statistical growth. This phenomenon results directly from the fact that more and more physicians are opting for part-time employment, meaning the real number of hours dedicated to the sick does not increase proportionally to the number of staff.

The Nordrhein region ranked fourth in Germany in terms of doctor density per capita, indicating a relatively good staffing situation in this part of the country compared to other federal states. Despite its high ranking, local patients still feel the effects of structural changes in the healthcare system, where a greater number of practices does not automatically translate into easier access to appointments. Doctor density in Germany: 4. Nordrhein (North Rhine region)The German outpatient care system is based on 17 regional associations of statutory health insurance physicians, which are subordinate to the KBV. This organization is responsible for ensuring medical care close to the patient's place of residence and represents the interests of contract doctors at the federal level. For years, a trend has been observed in Germany of moving away from the model of a doctor working full-time towards flexible forms of employment, forcing changes in the planning of medical resources.

Andreas Gassen pointed out that the current situation requires systemic solutions, as the statistical increase in the number of doctors masks the real deficit of time allocated to treatment. The KBV, as the umbrella organization, monitors these changes, noting that without reforming the way contract doctors' work is organized, waiting times for appointments could lengthen. This problem concerns not only general practitioners but also specialists, who are increasingly choosing to work in medical centers instead of running individual practices.