"If the heating costs for the practice rooms rise massively, if electricity costs for radiologists, for example, increase fivefold or even tenfold, then the question arises as to whether, for example, MRI examinations can still be carried out economically," said Gassen. He expects those who are already at the end of their careers to stop extending their leases earlier than planned. A third of family doctors are over 60 years old.

Crisis-related practice closures would be felt with full force next year or the year after, said Gassen. “And that in a situation where we are already unable to fill many practices. The supply close to home is then even more at risk.”