Neuruppin, 10 April 2025
Starting in 2020, the Brandenburg government has been co-funding the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) with 5 million Euro per year for research plus 1.6 million Euro for the Faculty of Health Sciences (FGW). The latest news is alarming: Annual funds are to be reduced from 6.6 to 5 million Euro. Policy makers, student representatives and the regional medical association warn against potentially fatal consequences for the training of prospective physicians, loss of valuable research capacities and ultimately an undermining of patient care in Brandenburg.
Region sends out stern warning
Ralf Reinhardt, District Administrator of Ostprignitz-Ruppin is deeply worried about the planned cuts as these would “jeopardize the science- and research-based training of physicians at the MHB for the State of Brandenburg.” 5 million Euro will not be sufficient to ensure the extension of research performance as the basis of medical education which the Science Council requested. Annual requirements of 8 million Euro have been communicated to the regional government in view of rising research costs. Compared to the considerably higher investments scheduled for medical education in Cottbus, the sums required for the MHB amount to just about 8 %. Reinhardt underlines the successful work at the MHB as the first and so far, only facility of medical training in Brandenburg – a non-profit institution under municipal sponsorship - and the large number of graduates who remain in the region: “The new Brandenburg government must recognize the economic relevance which the MHB has for the region and not put at risk what has been achieved. There is an obligation to reduce imbalances and work towards equal living conditions. Many regions here, not only the south (Lausitz area), are in the midst of structural changes.”
Neuruppin fully supports its university
Nico Ruhle, Mayor of Neuruppin, makes his views about the planned cutbacks very clear in an open letter. He points to the numbers of students enrolled at the MHB and stresses the university’s key role in the training of physicians and psychologists for Brandenburg. “We are grateful for the funds received from the regional government which made university education for prospective physicians possible, for the benefit of the State of Brandenburg.” He recalls the election campaign last year when candidates across political parties recognized the excellent work done at the MHB and promised continued funding. He warns against the consequences of the planned cutbacks: “Every additional Euro for the MHB is well-invested – specifically for research, and ultimately for the future supply of healthcare. I therefore ask the Brandenburg government and all parliamentarians not only to take back the announced cuts but to notably increase funding – now, in future and on a permanent basis.”
President of regional parliament: Successful model should not be undermined
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Liedtke as president of the Brandenburg parliament gave a speech at the matriculation ceremony in Neuruppin on 4 April 2025, where she quoted Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke who stressed the importance of good healthcare and called the MHB “a further Brandenburg success model” and worthy of continued support. She said budget discussions may lead to revisions. She explicitly appreciated the communal and non-profit sponsors of the MHB and described the institution as “not an insecure private business but an excellent university on solid ground”.
The last graduates of medicine left the MHB in summer 2024. The most recent cohort is just starting out.
Member of Brandenburg Parliament recognizes pioneering work
Britta Kornmesser (SPD) represents Brandenburg an der Havel in the regional parliament. In her Instagram follow-up of the matriculation ceremony for 48 dental students on 5 April 2025, she said that the importance of these new students for the region can hardly be overestimated: “In times of a nation-wide shortage of doctors, every new medical student is a valuable gift to our health system. The MHB renders pioneering work in training excellent medical experts and retaining them in the region.” She promised efforts in parliament to ensure that Brandenburg remains an attractive environment for young medical graduates with good working conditions and perspectives for the future.
Serious setback for medical care in the region
Dr. Jan Redmann (chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in Brandenburg) and Sebastian Steinke (CDU) as member of the Federal Parliament for Neuruppin call the planned cutbacks dangerous for the future of the MHB: "This is a serious setback not only for Neuruppin but also for all efforts to ensure the provision of healthcare in the region." Both promise in their statement to fight against the planned cutbacks.
Medical Chamber speaks of „short-sighted“ decision
The Brandenburg Medical Chamber (LÄKB) also criticizes the planned reduction of funding strongly. President Dipl.-Med. Frank-Ullrich Schulz warns of a considerable negative impact on medical education and healthcare: “The Brandenburg Medical School has played a prominent and successful role in the training of physicians in Brandenburg for years. Cutbacks in funding would endanger not only the quality of teaching but also the operation of the university. Such cuts would be short-sighted and not in the interest of healthcare provision in Brandenburg, which is already challenged.” The journal Ärzte Zeitung quotes Dr. Karin Harre (chair, Brandenburg association of family doctors) who sees the cuts as harmful to outcomes research, to the education and advancement of young physicians, and as an existential threat to healthcare in Brandenburg. Family doctors collected signatures in support of the MHB at their recent congress in Neuruppin.
Brandenburg’s student body alarmed
The association BRANDSTUVE represents about 50,000 students in Brandenburg. They also oppose the planned cuts most strongly and point to the significance of the MHB for healthcare in a federal state that takes last place in national comparison for provision of care by physicians. Despite initial skepticism, the MHB successfully established a reliable institution of medical training in Brandenburg. In particular, BRANDSTUVE criticizes considerations voiced by some coalition partners to compensate cutbacks by increased tuition fees. “The Brandenburg government has neglected to ensure adequate provision of healthcare for the coming decade. This problem is primarily addressed by our fellow students at the MHB, who assume considerable financial responsibility; more than 150 of them are currently active in hospitals in Brandenburg and directly contribute to healthcare for the local population.” The student organization points to the positive evaluation of the MHB by the Science Council and quotes from the expert report which underlines the essential importance of public funding for the future of the university. BRANDSTUVE recalls earlier statements from Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke and Britta Kornmesser who promised to increase funding for the MHB. Students appeal to the Brandenburg government to prevent the cutbacks and raise funding for the MHB instead.
MHB president hopes for course correction
MHB president Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon feels encouraged by the broad support received: “Reactions from many different areas in politics, media and the academic community reveal wide-spread appreciation of what we have done so far to improve healthcare for the people in Brandenburg. We are confident that this support will help in bringing about a revision of the original budget plans.”
