[Changes in postgraduate education (health policy prerequisites, work schedule regulation)]

Postgraduate training is an integral part of becoming a doctor. Postgraduate training in Germany is learning by doing, while working as a doctor. Due to an extension of the in-patient sector and intensifying out-patient care as well as by new regulations for working time, resources for postgraduate training have obviously diminished. There is a clear disproportion between the demand for postgraduate-training posts and the corresponding supply. By flexibilisation of the regulations for postgraduate training and by complementing methods for training and learning, the downward movement of the capacities for postgraduate training will be taken care of.