The number of foreign doctors practicing in Germany has reached an all-time high.
The latest statistics from the German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) indicate a record number of non-German doctors practicing in the country. At the close of 2023, the number stood at 63,763, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
The majority of these foreign-born doctors originate from other EU nations or Middle Eastern countries. Among them, the largest contingents are from Syria (6,120), followed by Romania (4,668), Austria (2,993), Greece, Russia, and Turkey.
While the influx of non-German doctors has helped alleviate the country's ongoing doctor shortage, the issue remains significant. In the past decade, the number of foreign doctors in Germany has doubled from 30,000 in 2013.
Germany's recent immigration laws and the introduction of the Chancenkarte visa system aim to facilitate the entry of skilled professionals from third countries, thus further addressing the medical staff shortage.
However, the German Medical Association in Rhineland-Palatinate emphasizes the importance of ensuring that non-native doctors possess excellent German language skills to avoid potentially life-threatening misunderstandings. Currently, practicing doctors in Germany are required to have a minimum language proficiency level of B2.