Foreign Doctors: Held Back or Settled? - Foreign doctors in Germany face unequal paths to practising medicine
Germany's healthcare system depends on foreign doctors, yet many face long delays and bureaucratic hurdles before they can practise. Two professionals—one Syrian, one Ukrainian—show how different their experiences can be. While some navigate the system smoothly, others struggle with recognition procedures that leave them questioning their careers.
Faisal Shehadeh, a trauma surgeon from Syria, found his path into German medicine relatively straightforward. After completing specialist training in North Rhine-Westphalia, he worked as a senior physician in Saarland. Now, he practises at the Asklepios Clinic in Langen, where he feels settled. He values the quality of life, political stability, and safety in Germany. Beyond his work, he co-founded the Syrian Society of Physicians and Pharmacists in Germany, a network of 480 members supporting Syrian doctors with exams and recognition. Many Syrian colleagues, despite building lives in Germany, remain connected to their homeland, assisting in training or performing surgeries during visits.
Lesia Haidych, a Ukrainian cardiologist, describes her experience as 'extremely challenging.' She passed her German language exams in 2022 but has spent years waiting for her qualifications to be recognised. Recently, her application was rejected, forcing her to prepare for a knowledge exam. For now, she works as a lecturer at an academy for healthcare professions—a role she finds more fulfilling than leaving medicine entirely, though she misses treating patients. The uncertainty has left her questioning her identity: 'In Ukraine, I was a doctor. But who am I here in Germany?' Her story is not unique. One Ukrainian colleague was even advised by the employment agency to take a job as a supermarket cashier while awaiting certification. Between March 2022 and December 2025, Germany officially recognised around 4,200 Ukrainian doctors under the ÄAppG. Most settled in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, while eastern states like Saxony and Thuringia saw far fewer. Yet recognition alone does not guarantee a smooth transition, as bureaucracy continues to slow down integration for many.
Foreign doctors play a crucial role in Germany's healthcare system, but their integration remains uneven. Some, like Shehadeh, establish careers and contribute both locally and abroad. Others, like Haidych, face prolonged setbacks that delay their professional lives. With thousands of Ukrainian doctors recognised in recent years, the system still struggles to provide timely and consistent pathways for all.
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