Emergency practices are about to end: health crisis in rural areas!

Emergency practices are about to end: health crisis in rural areas!

In Germany, the discussion is boiling about future medical care, especially in rural regions. Shortly before the Bundestag adopted the long-awaited hospital reform, it became known that the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Baden-Württemberg (KVBW) is considering a plan to close 17 emergency practices, including threesome in the region. This message caused a storm of indignation.

Raphael Osmakowski-Miller, the mayor of Bad Saulgau, was outraged about the closing plans. He described them as "catastrophe and irresponsible" and warned that it was now dangerous to live in rural areas where medical care is already under pressure.

Questions about the responsibility of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians

The responsibility of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians would be to ensure comprehensive and near-home medical care. However, this promise seems to be questioned, especially in view of the current closure plans and the austerity measures that the organization has initiated. Some municipalities therefore try to ensure medical care on their own.

An example of this is the small community of Bingen with around 2700 inhabitants. Here, the practice of Ernst Baar, which has been the medical backbone of the community for decades, was taken over by the SRH clinics after his death and converted into a medical care center (MVZ). In 2026, however, the rental agreement will expire and SRH has announced not to extend it.

Although the SRH clinics insure, invest in the location and not want to close general medical practice in Bingen, there is concern about the future medical care of the community. However, positive news comes from the community itself, which plans to build a modern medical center on a site unused for years. The costs for this amount to around 1.4 million euros - an enormous financial risk for a small community.

The withdrawal of health service providers

The situation in the neighboring district of Biberach has also developed as dramatically. The Sana Group took over several clinics in 2013 and gave the region a newly built central hospital. But just one year after the opening, the geriatric center in Laupheim closed. The closure, which was justified by Sana with financial difficulties and a lack of patients, left the area without the necessary medical infrastructure.

The closure of the clinic buildings was associated with a change of ownership, which enabled the district to invest 2.6 million euros in the development of a medical center. District Administrator Mario Glaser emphasized that although there was no direct influence on outpatient health care, the creation of corresponding framework conditions could be promoted directly.

At the same time, the citizens of Riedlingen, who had to accept the loss of their clinic four years ago, hope for new perspectives through a planned outpatient medical service center. Here a regional bidding community has concluded a rental agreement with the city to finally get medical care back on its feet.

However, the challenges remain great. In Bad Waldsee, where the local hospital has now been converted into an MVZ, the situation is tense. The withdrawal of several general practitioners led to a significant lack of medical care in the city. Despite a new family doctor, the opening of which was delayed, the care is not sufficiently secured.

The current situation shows that medical care in rural areas is always under pressure. While many municipalities struggle for solutions, it remains to be seen whether the association of health careers can give the necessary support to prevent the impending undersupply. This is not only a challenge for politicians, but also an essential question for citizens who rely on reliable medical care. For more information on this matter see the current report www.schwaebische.de .