[Task shifting as possible solution for health workforce capacity shortages in forensic medicine in primary care...

Forensic medicine in primary care setting is dealing with a structural shortage of forensic physicians. Due to an increasing demand, as well as a low inflow and a high expected outflow of the profession, increasing shortages are to be expected. By distributing forensic tasks differently, capacity of forensic physicians could be unlocked and re-allocated. Nivel, in collaboration with Panaxea, and in consultation with the professional field, identified three scenarios for task shifting. In this article, we describe how these scenarios were investigated and to what extent they can contribute to a future-proof organization of forensic medicine in the Netherlands.