Monday 25 February 2008

Working in Germany as a Foreign Physician

Generally EU citizens, who have already completed their medical training, are allowed to work as physicians in Germany. The constitution of Germany gives most government power to its 16 constituent Bundesländer (states). They have to get their Approbation (license to practise medicine) from the state health authorities (Bezirksregierung), who are the responsible licensing bodies.
The second step for doctors after getting approbation is to register themselves with the responsible state medical associations (Landesärztekammer). Applicants must prove, that they have sufficient knowledge of the German language.
The Citizens of the EU-Countri


Working as a specialist

Applicants, who had already completed their post-graduate training and want to work in Germany as specialists, have to submit their qualifications to the responsible state medical association (Ländesärztekammer). They determine the status of diplomas.



In contrary to previous years, the situation for physicians in the German labour market has changed. Because of the uncontrolled intake to medical schools there is a resultant surplus of physicians. Unemployment has become a problem within the profession.

The unemployment rate is currently 2,3 percent (Ärzteblatt 98, Heft 21 vom 25.05.01). As a result many German doctors have gone to countries such as Norway, Sweden or UK, which actively recruit Physicians from Germany.

It is difficult to undertake a medical postgraduate training for both German and foreign physicians.

After finishing medical school the medical graduates begins their post-graduate training with the so called "Arzt im Praktikum", AIP (pre-registration period). AIP lasts 1.5 years.

In Germany a physician has to complete his postgraduate training, before he is allowed to establish himself in a outpatient practice. In addition there are regional restrictions for setting up a medical practice with compulsory health insurance based on overall levels of demand and supply. State Associations of Compulsory-Health-Insurance (Regionale Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen) are responsible for the authorisation of the outpatient medical practise with CHI.
Foreign Doctors in Germany
At the end of the year 2000 there were 14 306 (previous year 14 243) foreign colleagues working in Germany. This represent a marginal increase over the previous yearend. The number of foreign clinic-doctors over the same time period increased by 3,4 percent and practice-doctors by +0,7 percent (2000).
The most common countries of origin are the former Soviet Union, Greece, Turkey, Poland and the Netherlands.