Syrian doctors are leaving Germany: Are hospitals collapsing?
An increasing number of Syrian doctors are leaving Germany to return to their homeland, where they participate for free in performing complex surgeries to save the lives of their fellow citizens. These doctors, who have specialized in Germany for years, decide to leave their jobs and status there to contribute to rebuilding the devastated healthcare system in Syria.
Deutsche Welle highlighted the story of a 55-year-old Syrian man who survived death thanks to a rare open-heart surgery performed by Syrian doctors who returned from Germany to Syria. These surgeries are very rare in Syria due to their high cost and the lack of necessary skills and equipment most of the time.
According to the journalists who prepared the report, the Syrians they spoke to expressed their deep gratitude to those doctors who chose to return despite the risks and difficulties, in an effort to rebuild their war-torn homeland.
World Bank data indicates that up to 10,000 Syrian doctors are currently working in Germany. After the decline of Bashar al-Assad's regime, some of them have already returned to Syria with the aim of providing medical services and contributing to the reform of the healthcare system. The "Syrian-German Medical Association" has also been established, which currently includes about 500 members, with a continuous increase in the number of members.
However, the departure of this number of doctors has begun to raise concerns in Germany. According to a survey conducted by the Union of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany, 76% of Syrian doctors expressed their intention to permanently stay in Syria. The reason for this desire is not limited to love for the homeland, but also includes the rising feelings of hatred towards foreigners in Germany, which has led some doctors to make the decision to leave.
Hospital directors in Germany are making urgent appeals for support, warning that the continued departure of Syrian doctors could exacerbate the medical staff crisis, at a time when the German healthcare sector is already suffering from a shortage of doctors and nurses.