German healthcare official proposes reinstating retired doctors to tackle labour shortage

To address the growing shortage of medical professionals in Germany, the President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, is urging the federal government to make it easier for retired doctors to return to work. He emphasized that improving nationwide access to medical care is critical, warning that without immediate intervention, the healthcare system is heading toward a supply crisis.

Creating incentives for doctors to continue working beyond retirement age could unlock the potential for 20,000 additional full-time medical positions, the Tagesschau publication cites Reinhardt.

Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), he called such measures a significant step toward a sustainable workforce strategy in healthcare. Reinhardt proposed a package of reforms, including tax breaks, exemption from social security contributions for working retirees, and significant reductions in bureaucratic burdens. These would serve as strong signals of appreciation and practical support for voluntary post-retirement work.

His comments were prompted by a non-representative online survey commissioned by the German Medical Association and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, published in the Deutsches Ärzteblatt. Of the 5,000 physicians surveyed, about 75% said they could envision continuing to work until at least age 70, and around 20% were open to working up to age 75. However, respondents expressed clear conditions: flexible scheduling, reduced administrative work, and appropriate financial incentives were seen as essential. “Doctors who continue working after retirement don’t want to deal with management issues, HR, or excessive bureaucracy,” Reinhardt stressed.

The urgency of the issue is underscored by the current shortage of medical staff. For example, 5,000 general practitioner positions remain vacant. According to the 2024 medical workforce statistics, over 100,000 practicing physicians are already over 60 years old—about 23% of the workforce. This demographic shift puts additional pressure on the healthcare system.

Reinhardt warned that patient care is at risk if decisive action is not taken. “Our healthcare system is heading straight for a supply emergency unless we act now,” he told the German Press Agency (dpa). He pointed out that Germany has one of the world’s highest rates of doctor visits per capita—9.6 per person annually. In some areas, the same patient may visit two different GPs regularly. “This isn’t just inefficient,” Reinhardt concluded, “it’s simply unsustainable in light of staff shortages and limited financial resources.”

By Nazrin Sadigova