Medizinalrat

Medizinalrat (literally Medical Counselor) is a title used in German-speaking countries for a senior physician employed in the public service, especially within health administration, hospitals, and regulatory agencies. The term blends medicina with Rat, meaning council or advisor.

Historically, the title was a formal civil-service rank in the 18th to early 20th centuries in the Austrian and German-speaking realms, including the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire. In various states the rank was accompanied by higher grades such as Geheimer Medizinalrat and Obermedizinalrat.

Duties commonly included advising government bodies on medical policy, supervising public hospitals and sanitary institutions, oversight of medical licensure and professional standards, and often teaching or advising universities and research institutions.

Modern usage varies by country. In Austria, Medizinalrat remains an official civil-service rank for physicians within health administration, and the title may appear in formal contexts. In Germany, the rank is largely historical; contemporary public health and hospital leadership positions use different titles, though the term may still appear in historical records and biographies.

See also: Obermedizinalrat, Geheimer Medizinalrat, medical ranks in civil service.