International Prospects and Obstacles for Foreign Healthcare Practitioners
In a bid to strengthen medical care in the region and contribute to the integration of foreign doctors and medical professionals, the City of Ingolstadt and Ingolstadt Hospital recently hosted an information event. The event, organised by Andreas Michel, head of the health region plus business office at the health department, Barbara Blumenwitz, integration guide at the social affairs office, and Ingolstadt Hospital, aimed to showcase perspectives and development opportunities, support professional integration, and strengthen ties to the region.
The event took place at the hospital's doctors' house, with Dr. Stephan Steger, the director of the clinic for acute and emergency medicine, and Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Palm, the director of the center for orthopedics and trauma surgery, available for questions. Dr. Andreas Tiete, CEO of Medicine, Nursing, and Information Technology, Medical Director, Ingolstadt Hospital, highlighted the importance of integrating international professionals for maintaining and developing medical care.
Foreign doctors and medical professionals face challenges in integrating into the German healthcare system, including language barriers, complex and inconsistent recognition procedures of qualifications, bureaucratic hurdles for licensing and work permits, and cultural adaptation. Key issues highlighted are the slow, non-transparent, and regionally varied recognition processes, particularly in verifying professional qualifications and language skills, which delay their deployment in medical facilities [1][2].
Strategies demonstrated by collaborations like this focus on providing clear guidance and support to foreign medical professionals. This includes offering information sessions to explain recognition procedures, language requirements, and licensing steps. Facilitating access to language training, especially medical German proficiency at levels B2 and C1, which are mandatory for practice [2][3], is another strategy. Promoting structured integration programs such as adaptation courses and knowledge tests to meet German standards [4] is also crucial.
Encouraging the use of advice centers and trade unions (e.g., Marburger Bund) to assist candidates through bureaucratic processes and overcome challenges [1][3] is another approach. Advocating for reforms at federal and state levels to harmonize and digitalize recognition procedures, reducing delays and inconsistencies [1], is also essential. Providing personalized support, including native-speaker consultants, to ease cultural, social, and professional integration [4] is another strategy.
Exchanging experiences with already active international professionals and networking those in the recognition process can provide valuable support to overcome challenges and integrate into the healthcare system. Milosh Gjelikj, a doctor who has completed the medical recognition process, shared his experiences at the event. Newly arrived individuals with medical knowledge are deployed as voluntary helpers in the "Your Contribution" project, which was also presented at the event.
The three-hour event was a success, and the exchange and networking are to be continued in similar formats for interested parties within the framework of the "Your Contribution" project. Practical tips from the hospital's perspective were provided during the event, and Linda Qasem, MiMi coordinator at the network for work and social affairs (NefAS e.V.), provided information about the German healthcare system.
Successful integration requires a combination of streamlined administrative processes, language and professional training, and targeted local support initiatives, as exemplified by partnerships like that in Ingolstadt [1][2][4]. The integration is seen as vital to addressing Germany’s growing shortage of medical specialists due to demographic changes.
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