Is a single doctor's office sufficient, or should additional measures be taken?
In the city of Cleves, a pressing issue has come to light - a shortage of general practitioners. This issue has sparked a series of discussions among local authorities, with various stakeholders offering potential solutions.
The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has expressed its intention to establish a starter practice in Cleves, which could help alleviate the shortage. However, given the high demand and significant shortage of general practitioners, this measure may not be sufficient on its own.
Recognising the need for more comprehensive action, the city council has passed a resolution, urging the administration to commission a feasibility study for the establishment of a municipal Medical Supply Center (MVZ). This move is seen as a step towards addressing the shortage more effectively, as municipalities can invest directly in infrastructure, coordinate resources at the local level, and implement targeted recruitment incentives.
City Councillor Marco Hendricks has expressed surprise that the administration has not yet commissioned this feasibility study, accusing them of reinterpreting the resolution. On the other hand, Mayor Wolfgang Gebing defends the administration's approach, stating that they have already spoken to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and do not feel the need to commission a separate feasibility study.
Gebing also mentioned that there are already several MVZs in Kleve, although he did not specify whether these are municipal or association-founded. He is cautious about hospitals setting up MVZs on their own, echoing the sentiments of Daniel Rütter (FDP), who believes that the KV practice does not solve the physician shortage in Cleves, as many general and specialist physicians are still missing.
Friedrich Förster (Greens) has urged quick action on the creation of a Municipal MVZ, considering previous efforts as insufficient. Some in Cleves' politics question if the starter practice is enough to address the demand for physicians, with Rütter suggesting discussing the possibility of establishing a Medical Supply Center with the municipalities of Bedburg-Hau and Kranenburg for the northern part of the district of Cleves.
The Open Cleves, a local organisation, believes that more needs to be done to address the shortage of physicians in Cleves. Doctors in the city have also voiced their concerns, with Rütter stating that they want to focus on their medical practice, not on billing and health insurance issues.
As the city administration faces criticism for not implementing the original council resolution regarding a feasibility study for a municipal MVZ, the future of healthcare in Cleves hangs in the balance. The need for a coordinated, localised, and resource-backed solution to the physician shortage is clear, and the debate continues as stakeholders work towards finding the best approach for the city.
- The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians plans to establish a starter practice in Cleves, aiming to alleviate the shortage of general practitioners, but the high demand and shortage may require more comprehensive action.
- Recognizing the need for a more effective solution, the city council has passed a resolution urging the administration to commission a feasibility study for a municipal Medical Supply Center (MVZ), believing that this could address the shortage more efficiently.
- The debate on the future of healthcare in Cleves continues, with some advocating for the creation of a Municipal MVZ and others suggesting discussing the possibility of establishing a Medical Supply Center with neighboring municipalities.
- The Open Cleves, a local organization, and doctors in the city believe that more needs to be done to address the shortage of physicians, expressing concerns about the current state of healthcare financing and its impact on medical practice.
