Brandenburg Prime Minister committed to Brandenburg Medical School

Neuruppin, 24 March 2024

Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke affirms his commitment to the MHB and promises increased financial support. This is what he announced in Brandenburg/Havel on Monday, 18 March, on a round trip organized by his party, the Social Democrats. As a non-governmental non-profit higher education institution under joint sponsorship of municipalities and church-run hospitals the MHB has received 6.6 million Euro per year from the State of Brandenburg up to now.   

The newspaper  Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Woidke spoke of rather more than less funding, also with a view to the dental medicine program which is scheduled to start in Brandenburg/Havel this year. He was not willing to be more specific. According to the portal Meeting-Point Brandenburg the Prime Minister recalled the situation in 2015  and the numerous discussions before the MHB started: could that work - medical training in a non-state institution, would Brandenburg/Havel and Neuruppin with the hospital conditions on site be adequately prepared? In view of current problems in the health system, he called the foundation of the MHB a success story and gave thanks to all involved. He promised ongoing support for the university hospitals and the university and pointed to the scheduled MHB program in dental medicine: “The situation today being different from what had been predicted, funding from the State of Brandenburg has increased and will have to be increased further.” The state-controlled medical school planned for the Lausitz region, so Woidke, is not meant to replace but to complement the MHB, since the Brandenburg government is enormously challenged to ensure area-wide healthcare provision.     

MHB chancellor Dr. Gerrit Fleige welcomes all considerations on the part of the Prime Minister that might lead to sustainable and successful structures in the context of medical education and healthcare in Brandenburg: “Over the past ten years, the MHB as a community-sponsored non-profit enterprise has become a relevant economic factor with an annual budget of currently about 30 million Euro. The performance of our students included, we continue to provide an important input to a positive development of Brandenburg. The MHB plays a key role in the current and future provision of healthcare. We focus our efforts and commitment on ensuring a healthy and active life for the general population, and in this manner we help to strengthen Brandenburg’s future economic viability.”

MHB president Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon is convinced that it requires stronger investment in medical infrastructure, research and education to provide high-quality medical services for the entire population of Brandenburg. The aspect of healthcare is of core importance not only in terms of the quality of life in Brandenburg, but also in choosing a place to live and work. Prof. Simon: “This is why we welcome support from policy makers for the training of physicians, psychotherapists and dentists in and for the region. The MHB is the best medicine for the State of Brandenburg.”

Last January, the significance of the MHB for the future of Brandenburg was pointed out to the Potsdam government, which faces reelection in September 2024. Continuous financial support and a moderate increase in public funding were suggested so that the MHB could extend its research efforts, maintain the high quality of teaching and thus contribute to ensuring and improving the structures of health provision in Brandenburg. Institutional funding of at least 10 million Euro per year would considerably enhance its prospects of success.