Leftists demand faster recognition of foreign doctors

The Left Party is calling for faster procedures for the recognition of foreign doctors. Party leader Susanne Schaper points out that significantly fewer applications have been approved recently than in previous years. "In the last two years, significantly more doctors have applied to be allowed to practise here. This is certainly also due to the war in Ukraine. However, only a small number have been granted this permission so far," Schaper told the German Press Agency in Dresden. Obviously, there is not enough capacity in the responsible authorities.

Schaper: Without foreign staff, clinics would be under threat

"So doctors have to wait unnecessarily, which is also bad for patients," emphasized Schaper, herself a trained nurse. There are already more than 3,200 doctors with a history of migration in Saxony, which corresponds to more than 15 percent. "Many clinics, especially in south-west Saxony and Lusatia, would have to close down without foreign staff.

We must do everything we can to speed up recognition procedures." This requires more staff and simpler processes. The Free State should commission an interprofessional team of experts to find solutions.

Doctors from 106 nations in Saxony

According to statistics, 3,278 foreign doctors from 106 nations are currently registered with the Saxon State Medical Association. Most of them come from Syria (416), the Czech Republic (415), Poland (275), Slovakia (238), Russia (182), Romania (175), Ukraine (160) and Bulgaria (96). A total of 3,055 foreign doctors are employed.

The topic of health is also playing a major role in Saxony's election campaign. Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) and the Left Party have repeatedly spoken out in favor of maintaining all 76 hospitals in the state. In the 1990s, there were still 130 hospitals. A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony on September 1.