Brandenburg weighs mobile doctor practices to tackle rural GP shortage

The Brandenburg health ministry is evaluating the introduction of mobile general‑practice clinics as a measure against the state’s acute shortage of rural family doctors. Approximately 20 % of GP positions in the state are vacant, and the average doctor there currently serves 1,436 patients, the highest ratio in Germany.

Officials note several practical and legal challenges: doctors would need to travel long distances between visits, hygiene standards could be hard to maintain, and the state medical chamber says mobile practices are not permitted under current professional regulations, though the ministry argues they are not categorically illegal. As an alternative, the ministry proposes establishing branch practices within municipal buildings, which could provide fixed opening hours, integrate telemedicine and enable teamwork among physicians and health‑care staff.

The debate occurs alongside broader health‑system reforms, including plans for advanced‑practice nurses and efforts to reduce bureaucracy in primary care.