Laboratory medicine in Germany: an overview Laboratory medicine plays a central role in modern healthcare in Germany. Approximately 60-70% of all diagnoses and therapy decisions are based on laboratory medical examinations[2]. This article provides an overview of the current situation in laboratory medicine in Germany. Structural data and skilled workers In Germany, 1,105 active specialists in laboratory medicine were registered in 2020[2]. The age structure of laboratory physicians shows a trend towards aging compared to the general medical profession[4]. This indicates a possible shortage of skilled workers in the future. In addition to specialists, approximately 50,000 other employees work in medical laboratories[5]. The proportion of non-physician specialists in the laboratory appears to be declining[4]. Market structure and economics The laboratory market in Germany is characterized by a few large corporate groups, each operating several laboratory sites. Among the largest providers are, among others, the Limbach Group, Sonic Healthcare Germany, Amedes, LADR, and Synlab[3]. Expenditure on laboratory services accounts for approximately 2.7%…