East Berlin Faces Severe Shortage of General Practitioners

With 118 unfilled positions and a wave of retirements expected, innovative solutions like telemedicine are being introduced to address the crisis.

In East Berlin districts such as Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg, and Köpenick, 118 general practitioner positions remain vacant, according to the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV) Berlin and the Berlin Red Cross.
Approximately one-third of the region's current general practitioners are expected to retire in the coming years, exacerbating the shortage.
The KV Berlin is offering financial incentives of up to €60,000 to encourage new medical practices to open in underserved areas.
A new telemedicine initiative proposes that specially trained paramedics handle certain patient visits, with doctors providing remote guidance to treat up to five patients per hour.
These measures aim to improve patient access to care and reduce unnecessary travel to medical facilities, enhancing overall quality of life.