Time and again we receive inquiries as to whether it is possible to work in medical professions in Germany without learning German. The clear answer is no. But if you can speak English, we can offer you an alternative:
The UK's medical regulatory authority, the General Medical Council (GMC), has stated that attracting highly skilled doctors from abroad will remain "crucial" despite plans to train more healthcare professionals domestically.
According to the GMC, nearly two-thirds (63%) of new doctors in 2022 qualified abroad.
While the UK government launched an extensive plan in June to train and recruit more healthcare workers in England, the GMC emphasizes that it will take many years for the impact of these initiatives to be felt.
NHS England currently reports 10,855 full-time doctor vacancies, with a rate of 7.2%. As part of NHS England's Long Term Workforce Plan, the goal is to recruit and retain "hundreds of thousands" more healthcare staff over the next 15 years. This plan includes a £2.4 billion investment in additional training places for healthcare workers, with the number of medical school places for student doctors set to double to 15,000 per year.
The GMC highlights the extended time required to train doctors and expresses the need to rely on overseas-trained doctors coming to the UK in greater numbers than in recent years to meet the population's healthcare needs during the transitional period.
According to a new report from the GMC, it is predicted that in 14 years, the proportion of overseas-trained doctors working in the UK will be similar to the current level (39%).
The GMC also expresses concerns about the retention of NHS doctors, citing "worrying signs" of a growing number planning to leave the profession due to high levels of dissatisfaction and a high risk of burnout.
In 2022, approximately 15% of the total number of doctors leaving the UK profession (about 2,000 doctors) chose to practice abroad.
NHS England's plans include a major focus on retention, incorporating more flexible working options and career development opportunities. The GMC stresses the importance of providing support to doctors arriving in the UK and runs workshops to help overseas-trained doctors adapt to the working culture.
Oyku Tural, a doctor from Cyprus who attended a "Welcome to the UK" event at the GMC, emphasized the need for support in adapting to the new system and believes that overseas-trained doctors can be an asset to the NHS.
Dr. Sarah Clarke, President of the Royal College of Physicians, underscores the vital role of doctors trained overseas in the medical workforce, stating that without them, the NHS would be significantly more stretched than it is now.
In an international comparative study conducted by the WP Society KPMG and the German Hospital Institute (DKI), the salaries of senior British hospital doctors range from 100,000 euros to over 200,000 euros per year – 20 percent to 40 percent higher than the German level.
However, entry-level salaries are correspondingly lower, ranging from 10,000 euros to 16,000 euros. For a self-employed doctor, earnings depend significantly on the success of the practice, a situation not unlike that in Germany. While the earning potential is not worse in comparison, it is also not significantly better.
The British National Health Service (NHS) operates differently from the German statutory health insurance system and is considered less well-equipped compared to the German healthcare system. Responsibilities for general practitioner, specialist, and hospital treatment are more clearly defined in the UK.
Unlike Germany, specialist doctors are primarily found in hospitals, and the hierarchical structure within hospitals in the United Kingdom is less pronounced, with no equivalent of a "chief physician." Flatter hierarchies, strong collegiality, and teamwork characterize the collaboration. Good training opportunities are typically provided, and working hours are adhered to more strictly, tending to be shorter than in Germany – overall, not unfavorable working conditions.
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