Medical Limbo: Ukrainian Doctors Face Long Wait Times in Germany Despite Doctor Shortage
?? Quick Facts:
The Human Cost of Red Tape
Meet Nadija Mozheyko, a laboratory physician from Kyiv with seven years of experience. Like many Ukrainian medical professionals who fled the war, she's caught in a frustrating paradox: Germany desperately needs doctors, yet she can't practice her profession due to lengthy bureaucratic procedures.
The Challenge: A Multi-Step Marathon
To practice medicine in Germany, foreign doctors must complete several hurdles:
Why Are Things Moving So Slowly?
Key obstacles identified by experts:
The Brain Drain Risk
Dr. Oksana Ulan, chair of the Ukrainian Medical Association in Germany, warns that many qualified Ukrainian doctors are choosing other European countries over Germany:
These countries offer faster paths to practicing medicine, making them more attractive to skilled professionals.
Hope on the Horizon?
The Federal Ministry of Health is planning changes to speed up the process:
?? Expert Suggestion: Dr. Ulan proposes allowing experienced doctors to work under supervision for 1-2 years instead of taking additional exams, providing real-world assessment of their skills and language abilities.
The Bottom Line
As Germany faces a growing physician shortage and demographic challenges, experts agree that the current system is unsustainable. "We can't afford to lose highly qualified professionals to bureaucracy," says Gerald Ga?, chairman of the German Hospital Federation.
Meanwhile, doctors like Nadija Mozheyko continue waiting, hoping to eventually realize their dream of practicing medicine in their new home.
Donno about “understaffed administrative offices”, though.