[Securing the future: How can healthcare professions become irresistible to young talent again?]

Demographic change is leading to a higher number of people who are ill or are in need of care. Medical advances, particularly through minimally invasive procedures, make numerous interventions possible even for older people. This is leading to a current increase in medical demand that is expected to continue into the future. Declining birth rates have led to a shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector, which is projected to be even more pronounced in coming years. This is leading to a staff shortage, followed by increasing workloads. Shift work, heavy bureaucratic burdens, and inflexible work hours are making patient-centered careers increasingly unpopular. Although many young people can imagine working in nursing or medical professions, the current working conditions mean that many young professionals prioritize private and family life, seek part-time jobs, or leave the profession altogether. Only improvements in working conditions and, where appropriate, adjusted remuneration can reverse this trend. Reduced bureaucracy, predictable working hours and vacation times, as well as modern personnel development and leadership are potential solutions. Future challenges, such as those posed by the current healthcare reform, can only be met through regional networks for medical education and training.