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 journey before they receive the required professional license, 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. This means that those affected can work in the profession immediately. It remained unclear how many of these were recognized following a qualification. The employment agencies help by offering suitable support programs.
"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 training, they must also demonstrate the necessary knowledge of German, health suitability and moral reliability (certificate of good conduct).
Head of the employment agency also urges speed
"We know that professional recognitions must be carefully checked and assessed against our standards. That takes time. But the faster these professions are recognized and the foreign skilled workers are put to work, the faster the people and institutions in Saxony will receive urgently needed help or support," Klaus-Peter Hansen, head of the Federal Employment Agency in Saxony, told dpa.
About 280 professions in Germany regulated for recognition
According to the employment agency, around 280 of the approximately 3,500 professions in Germany are regulated. These include healthcare and nursing professions. In regulated professions, the activities are legally protected. In addition to a specific qualification, further requirements are often necessary for admission to the profession. In Saxony, the municipal social association is responsible for nursing professions.
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