The Shift to Academic Degree Level of the Midwifery Profession (Part 1): Opportunities - and how they can be used in the Best Possible Way In The Study Programmes

The reform of the midwifery profession law was long overdue. The WHO has been demanding an academic primary qualification for midwives for years, the EU changed its corresponding directive in 2013, so that within the EU all countries had to change midwifery training accordingly, if they had not already done so. Nevertheless, the reform was controversially discussed in Germany. Especially on the part of medical representatives, numerous concerns were expressed. The need for reform in midwifery training in Germany is enormous, as the last change took place in 1985. The WHO points out that over 50 outcomes in obstetrics will be improved if the quality of midwifery training is increased. There is therefore enormous potential in the reform of legislation. Special provisions of the new midwifery law are novelties and can be exemplary for other studies for health care professions, such as the financing of practical study parts and the student salary.