A total of 35 percent of GPs in the district are 60 years or older
The Baden-Württemberg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVBW) controls the establishment of GPs on the basis of demand planning. The district is divided into three central areas. The coverage rates are 108.1 percent in the Ludwigsburg/Kornwestheim central area, 86.9 percent in the Vaihingen central area and 90.3 percent in Bietigheim/Besigheim. The age structure of practitioners shows that 35% of GPs in the Ludwigsburg district are aged 60 or over. In some central areas, there is therefore a risk of an undersupply of GPs, mainly due to the age structure and potential problems in filling vacancies, as there is a shortage of young doctors, particularly among 28 to 39-year-olds.
The KVBW is also responsible for demand planning for specialists. Here, the majority of supply levels are above 110 percent. This rules out the establishment of further specialists. The trend in recent years shows a slight decrease in the number of residents per specialist, which means an increase in the density of specialists, which deviates only slightly from the Baden-Württemberg average.
Despite current good data, there are challenges
This data gives the impression that medical care in the district is good, but there are still challenges. "Many citizens are confronted with problems when looking for a GP or specialist. In the health department, we regularly receive inquiries from desperate citizens who are unable to find a pediatrician, for example. This shows that the demand planning of the Baden-Württemberg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians needs to be questioned and adapted to the changed circumstances," says District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier.
The data illustrates the complex situation regarding the supply of doctors in the Ludwigsburg district: while some central areas are well supplied, others are threatened by an undersupply. Demographic developments and the age structure of practitioners pose long-term challenges. The health report also shows that all relevant stakeholders must work together to ensure the supply of doctors in the future.
