• Introduction
I am a neurology specialist in Germany. I graduated from medical school in Jordan in June 2013. In the first month, I discovered the possibilities of a medical specialty in Germany. There weren’t many Jordanian or foreign doctors in Germany at the time.
There were many rumors in various formats, such as:
• Doctors cannot find jobs in Germany
• The market is saturated
• Germany has no shortage of doctors
Many of my medical school colleagues chose not to travel to Germany after reading these rumors. However, they were deceived! Germany had a massive shortage of doctors, and it still has in 2024.
If you have any doubts or need more clarification, feel free to ask any time in the main group of Facharzt JETZT on Facebook and Telegram (all Telegram groups will be added as a folder). This article is a guide to enhance your understanding of the topic; however, it should not be your sole resource. Always consult official websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information (you can read our full disclaimer here).
• The shortage still exists, and it’s also enormous
Let’s use official statistics and numbers:
The German Central Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) reported that 59,833 foreign physicians practiced in Germany in 2022. By comparison, there were 31,236 foreign doctors in Germany in 2013, an increase of 191.6%.
Most doctors who gain German citizenship in 3 to 5 years are deemed German nationals and excluded from this figure, which means that the actual number of foreign doctors is naturally lower than the actual number. Additionally, at least 10% of German medical school graduates are foreigners who become citizens of Germany within a year or two.
• Reason for pessimism about finding jobs for doctors
Dr. Mohammed Ziad Al-Saudi, one of my colleagues, has frequently remarked, “Only persons who have problems with their tests or residency broadcast such information and moan about the impossibility of starting work in Germany”. Naturally, people who have passed the examinations don’t enter Facebook groups to talk about their achievements. Still, instead, they begin learning about medical specialties, working, earning money, purchasing luxury cars, and getting married (or finding a girlfriend/boyfriend).
• The shortage of doctors in Germany continues for the following reasons:
1. German labor laws
The law recently restricted the maximum weekly hours residents are permitted to work (about 50–55 hours) and the number of monthly shifts (more than 4–5 shifts, with two weekends being shift-free). Of course, that is a relatively small number of shifts compared to many other nations. Therefore, hospitals will require more residents.
German doctors used to work up to 36 hours straight about 20 years ago. Certain nations around the world currently have these hours in place. Even in America, with roughly the same pay, the number of resident hours is more than in Germany.
A colleague of mine was a neurosurgeon in Jordan. He worked over 285 hours per month in Jordan (I do not remember exactly). We calculated his salary if he worked the same number of hours in Germany, and the answer was more than 5,600 euros (more than six times the salary). Of course, he will also receive €250 net per month for each child.
2. The number of medical colleges and graduates in Germany has increased very little
The cost to the government of teaching medicine in Germany is very high. So far, the government seems to opt for the cheapest solution of receiving ‘ready’ doctors from abroad rather than teaching doctors in Germany to fill doctors’ jobs.
3. Work-life balance
The new generation of doctors in Germany and, even after a few years, the foreign doctors themselves want to work a few hours. Therefore, a large proportion of doctors work part-time because the majority do not want to work more rotations than the number of hours officially required of them. Female doctors in Germany can also take two years off work to have a baby. Of course, the salary is paid at 60%.
4. Population growth
Germany’s huge population has increased recently due to the many refugees entering the country. There is still a massive influx of refugees into Germany.
• Then you have no reason to be pessimistic about finding jobs for doctors
Of course, the situation is now more complicated than a few years ago, but there is still a shortage.
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