Wait so long: Syrian doctor fights for approval in Kassel!

Wait so long: Syrian doctor fights for approval in Kassel!

There is a lot of coming and going in the medical practices in Germany, but many foreign doctors face a long road to getting licensed. A particularly impressive example is Raghad Kawash, a 28-year-old Syrian woman who moved to Kassel in 2023 on a marriage visa. She had already studied medicine in Syria and worked at the university clinic in Homs. Despite her qualifications, the recognition process for her training in Germany is a rocky road.

Kawash learned German up to level B1 in her home country and successfully passed the B2 exam in Germany. In spring 2024, she submitted an application for approval to the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP). After passing the specialist language test in November 2024, more than half a year passed without her hearing anything about being admitted to the knowledge test. Many applicants are reportedly waiting up to two years for a decision, and authenticating their documents appears to contribute significantly to slowing down this process, as HNA describes.

frustrations and hope

Kawash is currently working as a medical assistant in a family doctor's office and is organizing her everyday life while she waits to be approved for the knowledge test. She plans to work in Kassel after her license to practice medicine, as she already sees the region as her new home. However, her communication with the HLfGP was frustrating. Questions often went unanswered, which frayed Kawash and her husband's nerves. The HLfGP expressed regret at the impression that their concerns were ignored and is working to improve communication.

The waiting times for approval are not an isolated case. According to Ärzteblatt, 6,525 foreign doctors applied for recognition of their professional qualifications in 2019. A particularly large number of applications come from Syria, Romania and other European countries. A faster process for approval is assumed in Bavaria, as applications from abroad are also accepted there.

Conditions for approval

The requirements for licensing are high and there are differences between the applicant countries. For doctors from EU countries, the process is comparatively unbureaucratic. You benefit from a simplified recognition process. For third countries, however, such as Syria, an individual examination of the training is required. The times between application and approval can vary significantly depending on the country of origin. While applications from EU countries are processed for a maximum of three months, for third countries it can take up to four months until the equivalence of the training is determined, as Recognition in Germany explains.

The demand for medical staff is currently high in Germany. General practitioners and specialists in internal medicine and surgery are particularly sought after. The labor market conditions are definitely positive for foreign doctors. An assistant doctor can expect a starting salary of around 4,700 euros, while specialists can earn around 6,100 euros.

While Raghad Kawash hopes for her documents to be checked and for the opportunity to take the knowledge test in October 2025, the path to approval remains difficult. The hurdles are many, but the chances of gaining a foothold in Germany increase with every step you complete. The situation shows how important it is not only to improve the professional approval processes, but also to make them more transparent in order not to lose potential skilled workers.