Honoured Doctor of the People (German: Verdienter Arzt des Volkes) was the highest honorary title awarded to physicians in East Germany for significant achievements in medical research or practice. It was given in form of a medal. The title was established on 31 March 1949. With few exceptions, it was awarded every year on 11 December, the birthday of Robert Koch celebrated as Day of the Health Service in East Germany. In total approximately 1,176 people received the award, excluding awards that were not published, such as those to Stasi psersonel. A person could be awarded only once with the title. The title came with a certificate and a prize of 7,000 East German marks.
See also Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany People's Doctor of the USSR List of medicine awards
Sources
Bundesministerium für innerdeutsche Beziehungen (Hrsg.): DDR-Handbuch, Auszeichnungen, Verlag Wissenschaft und Politik, 1985, S. 26 und 29, ISBN 3804686427. Andreas Herbst, Winfried Ranke, Jürgen R. Winkler: So funktionierte die DDR, Lexikon der Organisationen und Institutionen; Gesundheitswesen, Rowohlt Taschenbuch, 1994, ISBN 3499163489.