Shortage of doctors in Germany: Ukrainian doctors cannot work because of bureaucracy
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany has accepted thousands of Ukrainian refugees, including a significant number of qualified doctors. However, despite the acute shortage of medical personnel in the country, most Ukrainian doctors face insurmountable bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from working in their profession. How did it happen that in a crisis, when every pair of hands is worth its weight in gold, the German health care system is unable to use the available resources?
According to Deutsche Welle, as of February 2022, 1,674 Ukrainian doctors have applied for licenses to practice medicine in Germany. However, only 187 of them received a permit, which is only 11% of the total number of applicants. Thus, 85% of Ukrainian doctors continue to wait for their licenses, remaining unemployed.
This problem is especially relevant against the background of the acute shortage of specialists in German medical institutions. In 2022, one hospital in Germany was closing every month due to lack of staff. The head of the Federation of German Hospitals, Herald Gass, emphasized that the country cannot afford to leave qualified specialists without work when they are so needed. However, the bureaucratic procedures for recognizing the qualifications of doctors from non-EU countries can take from 15 months to three years.
The situation is complicated by the predicted shortage of doctors in the coming years. About 80,000 German doctors are expected to retire, with many of those remaining forced to switch to part-time work due to stress and overwork. Under these conditions, it is not clear why qualified specialists from Ukraine and other countries cannot immediately join the work, especially given that their skills and experience could significantly ease the burden on the health care system.
The problem of employment of Ukrainian doctors is only part of the broader problem of integration of refugees into German society. So far, only 22% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany have been able to get a job. Most of them continue to depend on social benefits, facing difficulties related to language barriers and bureaucratic obstacles.
For comparison, a measure was adopted in Austria that gives Ukrainian immigrants unlimited access to the labor market. If certain conditions are met, they can receive the so-called “red-white-red card plus”, which greatly simplifies the process of integration and employment.
Thus, Germany should review its approaches to the licensing and employment of foreign doctors. Introducing accelerated procedures for the recognition of qualifications, reducing bureaucratic obstacles and providing language support can be key steps to solve this problem. Otherwise, the country risks continuing to lose valuable human resources and face a growing shortage of medical personnel.
