The increasing shortage of pediatricians and adolescent doctors in some parts of Bavaria is to be cushioned by expanding the so-called rural doctor quota. On Tuesday in Munich, the cabinet decided to adopt the regulation for rural doctors that has been in force since 2020 for further training to become specialists in pediatric and adolescent medicine.
This means that in the future, graduates without a high school diploma will also be able to study medicine, provided they commit to subsequently working as a pediatrician or doctor in rural areas. It is still unclear when the regulation will take effect. The Council of Ministers instructed the responsible Ministry of Health to submit a draft law to amend the law. Until now, within the framework of the country doctor quota, this was only possible if there was an obligation to undergo further training to become a specialist in general medicine or a specialist in internal medicine.
Bavaria was one of the first federal states to introduce the rural doctor quota in 2020. This gives young people who want to work as family doctors an additional chance of getting a place at medical school. In return, the prospective doctors undertake to work as family doctors for at least ten years after completing their studies and further specialist training in general medicine or internal medicine – in a region that is underserved or at risk of undersupply of family doctors.
By the winter semester 2023/2024, a total of 447 students have decided to study within the country doctor quota. Currently, 5.8 percent of the advance quota for medical study places is available for the rural doctor quota and an additional 1 percent for the quota for the public health service. The admission of pediatricians and adolescent doctors should take place within the existing preliminary quota of 5.8 percent. Conversely, there would be fewer places available for general medicine and internal medicine.