Counteracting the shortage of doctors in NRW's prisons

Joint press release with the Ministry of Justice of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia dated 13 December 2022

Doctors are constantly being sought in the state's prisons and in the North Rhine-Westphalia Prison Hospital to provide optimal healthcare for prisoners. The shortage of skilled labour does not stop at the prison system. In order to continue to recruit qualified doctors for prison medicine in the future, the Ministry of Justice concluded a cooperation agreement with Witten/Herdecke University on 12 December 2022.

Minister of Justice Dr Benjamin Limbach explained: "In future, we want to inspire future doctors to take up the exciting and varied work in the prison system while they are still studying. The treatment of inmates with their diverse medical problems and the close cooperation with other specialised services in this special working environment is very interesting from a professional point of view. The advantages of public service make the prison system an attractive employer for doctors."

Internships in the medical fields of the prison system

The prison system faces the particular challenge that there are no points of contact with prison medicine in the medical degree programme or in the (model) further training regulations of the German Medical Association. The interesting job description of the prison doctor is therefore barely anchored in the consciousness of prospective doctors. The cooperation agreement that has now been concluded addresses this issue and establishes prison medicine in the medicine curriculum at Witten/Herdecke University. In addition to imparting theoretical knowledge, students will in future be able to gain a direct impression of work in the prison system through internships in the medical departments of prisons and the North Rhine-Westphalia Prison Hospital itself.

Prof. Dr Martin Butzlaff, President of Witten/Herdecke University, emphasised: "It is crucial that students get to know role models during their training who can give them an insight into different disciplines. Some of our students have already had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with prison healthcare in practice; these impressions have left a lasting impression on them. The cooperation with the Ministry of Justice will enable all of our future medical students to gain access to the important field of prison medicine and thus to new career prospects."

In order to emphasise the importance of the cooperation agreement and to provide an immediate impetus for recruiting young talent, the signing of the cooperation agreement was accompanied by a lecture on 12 December 2022. This gave students an insight into the basics of medical care for prisoners and the special features of prison medicine.