[Teaching public health in human medicine studies in Germany]

There is an ageing medical workforce in the public health service. At the same time, challenges in recruiting young professionals persist despite the Public Health Pact. Against this backdrop, teaching in the field of public health during medical school is considered a crucial factor in arousing students' interest and attracting them to a career in the public health service. According to the Medical Licensing Regulations, there are four teaching formats related to the public health service: (i) Querschnittsbereich 3 (health economics, the health system, and public health), (ii) Klinisches Wahlfach (clinical elective), (iii) Famulatur (clinical internship), and (iv) Praktisches Jahr (practical year) in the public health service.This evaluation examines the offerings of these courses offered at medical faculties in Germany. The teaching load is low, particularly in Querschnittsbereich 3, which is a compulsory module for public health, and only a small proportion of this is allocated to teaching in public health. Only five universities offer a Klinisches Wahlfach related to public health, and only 13 faculties offer the Praktisches Jahr in the public health service.To attract young physicians to a career in the public health service, the existing gaps in teaching must be closed. Collaborations between the universities and with the local public health authorities appear to be a useful approach, particularly to address the challenges related to qualified teaching staff.