German hospitals urge faster recognition of foreign medical qualifications

The German Hospital Association (DKG) is calling for a faster and more streamlined process for recognizing foreign professional qualifications to combat a massive shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector. DKG Vice President Henriette Neumeyer highlighted that current bureaucratic hurdles, including inconsistent requirements across different federal states and complicated, non-digitalized visa processes, cause foreign specialists to wait months or even years for appointments at embassies.

While Germany is training more doctors than ever, structural issues such as the concentration of specialists in urban centers, an aging workforce, and the financial instability of small rural clinics have created significant gaps in care. A hospital reform launched in late 2024 aims to increase efficiency through specialization and outpatient treatment, but the DKG warns this could further exacerbate care shortages in rural areas. Many hospitals are now heavily dependent on international doctors to maintain essential services.