Medical education overhaul advocated during German Doctors' Day to encourage and support budding medical professionals.
Germany Urged to Expedite Medical Study Reform
In an urgent appeal, the German Medical Association has called on the federal and state governments to bring the long-delayed reform of medical studies to fruition within the next twelve months. The Masterplan Medizinstudium, initially proposed in 2017, aims to restructure medical education in Germany, focusing on practicality and patient-centered care.
The reform, part of the Masterplan, intends to integrate clinical experiences earlier in the curriculum, emphasize general medicine, and adopt a more competency-based study structure. However, the reform's implementation has been stalled due to unresolved funding issues between the federal government and the states [1][5].
The Associations' concerns extend to the conditions for medical students during their Practical Year (PJ), demanding a minimum expense allowance at least at the BAföG rate, a fair, and uniform sick leave regulation [1]. Currently, the sick leave regulation allows for 30 absences, which does not adequately address illness-related absences, potentially jeopardizing patient safety and student health [1].
To address this, the German Medical Association suggests excluding health-related absences from the total allowed absences, ensuring safety and well-being for both patients and students [1].
Despite the urgent appeal, the new Approbationsordnung (licensing regulations) for medical graduates has been postponed until October 2027 [5].
For further information on the Masterplan Medizinstudium, you can access the German Medical Assembly's resolutions here.
[1] German Medical Association, May 30, 2025.[5] Wissenschaftsrat's expert commission.
Photo: Dr. Klaus Reinhardt (c) Christian Glawe-Griebel / Helliwood
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- The Masterplan Medizinstudium, which aims to reform medical education in Germany, also seeks to integrate other aspects such as health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development into the curriculum, focusing on the holistic development of medical students.
- The German Medical Association, in its latest resolution, has urged for the integration of practical clinical experiences, patient-centered care, and competency-based learning across science, medical-conditions, and health-and-wellness disciplines in the new medical study structure.
