Acceleration of the Recognition Process for Foreign Professional Qualifications in the German Healthcare System
On June 12th and 13th, the 16 health ministers exchanged views on current health policy issues in Lübeck-Travemünde. To better counteract the increasingly severe shortage of skilled workers, the GMK made decisions to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications in health professions. "We have agreed that the knowledge test will play a different role in the future," said Hamburg's Health Senator Melanie Schlotzhauer (SPD). The profession-specific language test will be prioritized, while general language tests will be de-emphasized.
Additionally, the assessment office for health professions should be relieved to facilitate access to these professions, explained Schlotzhauer. The GMK resolution states: "The federal government is requested to examine how adequate funding for adaptation measures (adaptation courses with final discussions, knowledge tests with preparatory courses) for professionals in health fields with foreign qualifications can be ensured, and further requested to initiate necessary legislative changes." It must be ensured that no additional burdens are placed on those in need of care.
"The federally regulated recognition procedures for foreign doctors must become faster and, above all, more pragmatic," said North Rhine-Westphalia's Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU). The states intend to push this forward quickly with a Bundesrat initiative and concrete proposals.
Completion of Practical Training (Internatura) as Part of Professional Recognition in Germany
Furthermore, the GMK calls on the BMG to create a regulation that allows required practical training periods in third countries, such as the Ukrainian internship in medicine and pharmacy, to be completed domestically. This regulation should enable medical students who began their studies abroad to complete them in Germany.
You can find more information at: Gesundheitsministerkonferenz will ambulante Versorgung stärken (aerzteblatt.de)