Seven municipalities and counties strengthen health competence

On 1 July, a new project was launched to make it easier for people to access medical help and provide guidance in the healthcare system. The district of Lörrach participates together with six other municipalities and districts from Baden-Württemberg.

Many people in Baden-Württemberg do not know who to turn to in case of illness. According to one study, around 80 percent have difficulty finding their way around the healthcare system. It is often unclear when the visit to a family doctor's office is sufficient, the way to the emergency room is necessary or when the medical on-call service should be contacted. People with low levels of education, low incomes and limited financial resources are particularly affected.

This is where the new project under the title “Circular Strengthening of Navigational Health Competence in Urban and Rural Areas” comes in (provisional working title: NAVI-G). In addition to the district of Lörrach, the state capital Stuttgart, the district of Heilbronn, the city of Heilbronn, the district of Ludwigsburg, the district of Esslingen and the district of Emmendingen are involved. The aim is to improve the orientation of the healthcare system for all citizens.

First, the project partners investigate where the biggest hurdles are in everyday life. On this basis, they jointly develop concrete aid. The solutions should work in both urban and rural areas.

“For the district of Lörrach, this project offers the opportunity to sustainably strengthen people’s health competence and to provide them with a reliable orientation in everyday health issues,” says District Councillor Marion Dammann. Based on the analysis, we will develop measures to help citizens find, classify and use health information more easily. In doing so, we also rely on GesundSozial.digital – the online platform of the district, which has been bundling health and social services and information since 2025. The cooperation with the other municipalities is particularly valuable for us. The exchange opens up new perspectives and helps to develop sustainable approaches

The project is financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration Baden-Württemberg from funds from the Pact for the Public Health Service and implemented by the end of 2028. This is accompanied by joint steering structures, technical expertise and an ongoing evaluation. The results should not only benefit the participating urban and rural districts, but also be transferable across district boundaries to other regions.