Germany for Doctors

Prepared by: Warzer Othman

Germany is one of the countries that many medical students and young doctors from Kurdistan aspire to study and work in. Choosing Germany and preparing for language learning and credential recognition is a difficult decision that requires good effort. To learn more about how to work and study in Germany, we conducted an interview with Dr. Ahmad Mohammed, a long-time resident physician and board student in the internal medicine department in Germany:

What is the experience of Kurdish doctors in Germany like?

Dr. Ahmad: So far, it has been a very good experience. Currently, there are many Kurdish doctors in Germany who have obtained specialization, and some are also pursuing subspecialties. This is in addition to the fact that some doctors, after becoming specialists, have returned to Kurdistan. It's worth mentioning that the number of young Kurdish doctors in Germany is not very high - approximately 100 Kurdish doctors in a large country like Germany who came after 2014. So far, none of our doctors have had problems with studying and working, credential recognition, obtaining visas, or language issues. Everything has gone well, and we have all settled into our work in the departments we wanted.

How important is international experience for working and studying for a Kurdish doctor?

Dr. Ahmad: Honestly, I don't say that every doctor must obtain a European certificate, as we have many doctors in Kurdistan who are very intelligent and whose level is at an international standard. However, there are still some shortcomings in many doctors. For example, many internal medicine doctors don't know how to use ultrasound equipment. This is not the case in Europe - here, internal medicine doctors themselves are skilled in using and reading ultrasound. If you don't know, they teach you and you take courses, but "not knowing" is not acceptable.

When a patient visits the hospital, if their condition is not urgent, the doctor must refer them for diagnosis of their illness, and the doctor must diagnose the illness within a few days. There is absolutely no room for symptomatic management, which forces the doctor to study and learn.

In your opinion, how suitable is Germany for Kurdish doctors? What are Germany's positive aspects for doctors?

Dr. Ahmad: In my opinion, Germany is a very suitable country for Kurdish doctors. The reason is that in Germany, they only require credential recognition, and after that, you can study for specialization, because in Germany there are no acute, chronic, and emergency rotations that consume your time. Another positive aspect of Germany is that in most states, before completing credential recognition, you can work with C1 level German. Another point is that Germany has many hospitals and a very advanced healthcare system, with all facilities available and good physician salaries. Another good point regarding residency permits is that they are very good. For example, you initially come from Kurdistan to Germany with a language visa. When you complete the language here, they convert your visa to a credential recognition visa. When you complete the credential recognition visa, they convert it to a work visa. Just one month after the work visa, or even initially upon finding work, they convert your visa to a Blue Card. This Blue Card is for very few specific and designated professions, and physician is one of those few professions that can have this type of visa. With this Blue Card, you get citizenship in 5 to 6 years. Also, with this card, you can bring your parents and spouse to Germany. Here, there is no difference between Kurdish and German doctors - neither in salary, employment, or anything else. Everything is handled according to law and regulations. As you know, Germany is a large country. If you get tired of one city, you can transfer your work and studies to another city. Even when you're doing your board training, you can change cities every six months and continue in another city as you wish.

How can you become a doctor in Germany? What is the approximate cost for a doctor who studied in Kurdistan?

Dr. Ahmad: The truth is, this topic is very lengthy, but generally: First, you need to study and pass A1 and A2 levels of German in Kurdistan. After that, you can come to Germany with a language visa and study B1 and B2. This means you know German and have completed it. Therefore, you need to change your visa to a credential recognition visa. For this, you need to study C1, which is medical German. Regarding costs, you need approximately $20,000.

How is studying for master's and board in medical departments in Germany?

Dr. Ahmad: In Germany, there are no master's programs in medical departments. Board study is generally similar to Kurdistan. For example, studying anesthesiology is still 5 years, and for other departments, everything is 6 years. Also, for cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, and other internal medicine subspecialties, you must study 3 years in internal medicine, which is called "common tract," similar to Kurdistan. For surgical departments, it's the same way. If you want to study orthopedics, you need to study 2 to 3 years of general surgery. In my opinion, studying internal medicine departments in Germany is better than surgical departments, because in surgical departments, they don't easily allow you to perform procedures and surgeries. Here, health is above everything else. Patients pay health insurance every month from age 18, so this patient cannot be put at risk with a doctor who is not completely competent. Therefore, learning in surgical departments takes more time. So I think that due to this system and situation, you learn faster in surgical departments in Kurdistan than in Germany. But for internal medicine departments, it's not like that, and you get responsibility sooner. You do most of the work yourself, but at the same time, a specialist doctor is watching over you and helps you whenever you need it. Admission to specialization training is not difficult, except for some departments like dermatology and radiology, where admission is more difficult, similar to Kurdistan. But even that is not impossible, and there are Kurdish doctors studying in those departments here.

How much of a problem does the German language create for Kurdish doctors when working and studying?

Dr. Ahmad: German is an infinitely difficult language. It's not something that means learning German in the sense that you can have complete control of the language. But for medical work and study, there are no problems, and no one blames you or creates problems for you based on not knowing or not understanding the language.

What are the obstacles that prevent a Kurdish doctor from coming to Germany for study and work?

Dr. Ahmad: Every doctor has the chance to come to Germany. The only condition is that your documents and criminal record must be clean. I think there are no other such obstacles.

How is the general work style in Germany?

Dr. Ahmad: Every day, a doctor must be at work at 7:30 AM until 4 PM. You cannot be late for work. If you're late or don't come, you must notify them and have a reason. In Germany, we don't work on Saturdays and Sundays, provided you're not on call. Also, besides Saturday and Sunday breaks, you have 30 days of annual leave that you must determine at the beginning of the year as you wish, and you can distribute it as you like. Here, there are absolutely no 24-hour shifts for doctors - that is completely prohibited. You get your rights at work. For example, if I work 8 extra hours one day or for several days, I can take another day off. A doctor's income in Germany is between 2,500 to 3,500 euros. If you do more on-call work, you get more money.

What is your advice for young doctors?

Dr. Ahmad: Those who have no obstacles in their way and have the desire to go abroad for study and work, it's better to make that decision early and prepare themselves and go abroad, because then it's much easier and better to adapt to the environment here, and it's more pleasant for them.

Note: This interview was conducted in 2021.