MedicineCampus Lower Bavaria: Students take off for the region!

MedicineCampus Lower Bavaria: Students take off for the region!

The path to improved medical care in one of the regions of Germany affected by a shortage of doctors has begun at the Medicine Campus Lower Bavaria (MCN). The first student cohort started in the winter semester 2024/2025 with 110 first-semester students. These young talents mainly come from Bavaria, but also from other parts of Germany. The aim of the MCN is to optimize medical care in rural areas in order to counteract the ongoing shortage of doctors in Lower Bavaria. According to information from University of Regensburg the students have already successfully completed their first semester.

The University of Regensburg has created 110 additional study places in preparation for the new course. This presented the university with organizational challenges. Curriculum, course plans and spatial capacities were adjusted and additional staff were hired, supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and Art (StMWK). The students' feedback on integration and support at the university is consistently positive, and they are looking forward to the upcoming clinical content that is expected in the further course of their studies.

Practical training in the region

The theoretical training takes place in Regensburg, while the practical training takes place in various facilities in Lower Bavaria. These include, among others, the Mainkofen District Hospital as well as clinics in Landshut, Passau, Deggendorf and Straubing, including children's clinics. A total of around 300 full-time positions were created at the various locations, with many positions already filled in Regensburg. A significant investment volume of around 65 million euros is being invested in the building and equipment BR reported.

The concept aims to create a “sticking effect”. This means that students should be encouraged to stay in the region after they graduate. However, graduates are not obliged to work in Lower Bavaria. Long-term success in medical care is uncertain because training takes more than ten years. In the coming years, 27 new professorships are to be created, including 20 clinical professorships that will be distributed across the locations. There will also be 7 profile professorships for the Institute of Health Sciences in cooperation with the TH Deggendorf.

Health care in rural areas

The importance of improved medical care is particularly pronounced in rural regions. Not only are the facility options limited, but also the accessibility of health services. The need for quality healthcare services is high as the older population in rural areas has a higher burden of disease. There are fewer health care facilities, especially in rural areas, which leads to long journeys for patients bpb.de thematised.

Medical and nursing care is a cornerstone of public services. Innovative care models, such as collaborations between general practitioners and specialists, telemedicine offers and mobile healthcare providers, are necessary to significantly improve local medical care. In particular, the planning of medical care must be integrated into general public services planning to ensure that there are numerous specialists in rural areas who are ready to take on the health challenges.