Funding Guideline for General Practitioners

The General Practitioner Action Program of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia supports physicians and practice owners in particularly underserved communities in ensuring local primary care provision. Essentially, investments for establishing a practice or employment are subsidized with a funding rate of 80% of eligible expenses, with a maximum grant of up to €60,000 per practice. Additionally, the establishment of teaching practices is supported with a one-time grant of up to €10,000, and for the employment of medical trainees in general practitioner practices, a monthly amount of €500 is provided. Specialists participating in a qualification year or career change into general medicine also receive this monthly funding amount, while non-medical practice staff acquiring additional qualifications are supported with a one-time grant of up to €1,000.

Conditions for approval include, among others, a contractual medical license in the designated funding area, the project must not have been started yet, and the general practitioner activity must be exercised for at least five to ten years. Applications can be submitted year-round and must be received by the responsible district government no later than six weeks before the start of the measure. Required documents include the application form from the funding guideline, a financing plan, as well as proof of licensing and planned employment relationships. The guideline is aimed at start-up physicians, established practice owners, and medical care centers in rural and structurally weak regions of North Rhine-Westphalia.