Saxony wants simpler procedures for nursing staff

Saxony is desperately looking for nursing staff and is also looking abroad. Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) is pushing for more speed in the recognition of foreign qualifications. "Our goal must be to make recognition procedures simpler, faster and more effective without jeopardizing patient safety," Köpping told the German Press Agency. However, we also need to ensure that only sufficiently qualified people receive recognition.

"The increasing shortage of skilled workers is a huge challenge for the entire healthcare system. To ensure that people everywhere in Saxony can continue to receive the best possible nursing care in the future, we need stable training figures in nursing training and must not lose sight of the people already working in nursing," emphasized the Minister. We cannot afford to do without nursing staff from abroad.

For many of them, it is often a long road before they have the necessary professional license in their hands, said Köpping. The recognition procedure is just one hurdle that needs to be overcome. Just over a year ago, Köpping herself set off on a journey to recruit nursing staff in Brazil to work in Saxony. She recently visited young people from the South American country in a facility in Pulsnitz who are currently undergoing training and want to work here.

Left party sees potential in people already living in Saxony

The Left Party in the state parliament also believes that more efforts are needed to recruit nursing staff. "The number of people in need of care will also increase rapidly in Saxony. Everyone should age with dignity. This requires not only affordable co-payments that do not turn anyone into a welfare case, but above all enough competent staff in care homes and care services," explained Left Party leader Susanne Schaper. Apparently, despite expensive recruitment programs, it is hardly possible to attract qualified people from abroad.

Schaper recently submitted a minor question in parliament on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in 2023. The figures showed that 420 of 495 recognition procedures were completed in the year in question and 30 were approved. It remained unclear how many of these have since been recognized.

"The conclusion can only be this: We need to qualify more people who already live in Saxony. This must also involve social skills; specialist skills can be learned," argued Schaper. There is certainly also potential among people who are currently unemployed or who have immigrated.

Recognition of healthcare professions linked to high hurdles

In the interests of patient protection, access to healthcare professions is linked to particularly high requirements. This applies to both domestic and foreign graduates. In addition to successfully completing their training, they must demonstrate the required knowledge of German, health suitability and moral reliability (certificate of good conduct).