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Foreign physician numbers significantly surged within the nation's borders

Foreign physicians are increasingly providing medical care in Baden-Württemberg, with their numbers nearly doubling over the past decade.

Rise in the proportion of foreign physicians within the nation dramatically accelerated
Rise in the proportion of foreign physicians within the nation dramatically accelerated

Foreign physician numbers significantly surged within the nation's borders

In the bustling city of Stuttgart, a doctor shortage is emerging, causing a significant increase in competition for specialists and non-medical staff among private practices, clinics, and public institutions. This shortage is not confined to rural areas, but is also affecting the urban landscape.

The responsibility for knowledge tests lies with the medical association since February, while the four regional medical associations in Baden-Württemberg conduct the language proficiency exam. The shortage affects family doctors in particular, with the number of doctors with foreign citizenship in Baden-Württemberg having doubled over the past ten years, accounting for 14.3% of the total.

The largest group of foreign doctors in Baden-Württemberg is from the EU, making up 42% of the total. From Africa, 917 doctors come, mostly from Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt. Other countries with a significant number of doctors practicing in Baden-Württemberg include Hungary, Syria, Italy, and Russia.

While the immigration of foreign doctors benefits the ambulatory sector only slightly, with only 5.7% of foreign doctors working there, the majority, 80%, work in clinics. As of the end of last year, there were 8,078 foreign doctors registered in Baden-Württemberg.

The process for foreign doctors to gain professional recognition, language proficiency qualification, and German specialist recognition can be difficult. If all European countries are considered, 64% of foreign doctors in Baden-Württemberg are of European nationality. The largest number of non-European doctors comes from Asia, making up 20% of the total. Azerbaijan, Iran, and India are among the top countries from which non-European doctors come to practice in Baden-Württemberg.

Romania, Turkey, Austria, and Greece are the top countries from which foreign doctors come to practice in Baden-Württemberg, apart from the EU and Asia. The competition for doctors and non-medical staff in Stuttgart is growing due to the shortage of medical professionals, making it a challenging landscape for both local and foreign practitioners.

It is important to note that no specific information about the current or projected impact of the doctor shortage in Stuttgart is provided in the article. However, the growing competition among medical institutions for a diminishing pool of doctors underscores the need for strategies to address this issue and ensure continued access to quality healthcare for the city's residents.

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