Thousands of Ukrainian doctors who fled the war are ready to work in Germany but are stuck in bureaucratic limbo. More than 1,400 of these professionals are waiting for their applications to be processed, despite the urgent need for medical personnel in the country.
High demand, slow process
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, at least 1,674 Ukrainian doctors have applied for approval to practice in Germany, according to a report by Welt am Sonntag. However, only 187 of these applications have been approved, leaving 1,402 still under review. The data was collected from 14 German states, with Bremen and Hessen providing incomplete data.
The long waiting times are not unique to Ukrainian doctors. Typically, it takes between 15 months and three years for doctors from non-EU countries to have their qualifications recognized in Germany.
Criticism from medical professionals and hospitals
Gerald Gaß, President of the German Hospital Association, described the situation as “devastating.” He argued that the level of bureaucracy is paralyzing critical processes such as the recognition of foreign doctors. Gaß called for a “genuine de-bureaucratization offensive” to prevent the system from coming to a halt. He emphasized that it is no longer viable to leave skilled professionals on welfare instead of employing them where they are desperately needed.
Susanne Johna, Chairwoman of the medical association Marburger Bund, noted that more doctors from non-EU countries are choosing other European nations over Germany. She described the experience for foreign doctors in Germany as “simply frustrating.”
Differing political perspectives
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer highlighted a broader issue. He pointed out that less than 30% of Ukrainian war refugees in Germany are employed, indicating a problem with the country’s regulations. Kretschmer suggested simplifying the recognition process by certifying relevant degree programs and universities, which would allow graduates to start working in Germany more quickly.
Andreas Philippi, the SPD Health Minister of Lower Saxony, called on Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach to amend the federal medical and licensing regulations to make the recognition process faster and more standardized through digitalization. Philippi stressed that Germany cannot afford to place bureaucratic hurdles in the way of foreign doctors.
For Green Party health politician Janosch Dahmen, the problem lies with the states. He argued that the high number of pending applications shows that the current procedures are dysfunctional, overly complicated, and highly bureaucratic. Dahmen noted that medical education in neighboring European countries like Ukraine meets the standards of EU countries.
