Instructor Irina Fadeeva explains to her trainees how to care for the patient. The students in the group have come from various countries, all having moved to Munich to work in nursing. Training sessions like this one with “Luka” prepare them for their qualification exam, which they must pass to work with real patients.
Germany’s healthcare system is in dire need of international skilled workers. The shortage of qualified personnel in the nursing sector remains one of its most serious challenges. However, the path for foreign professionals wanting to work in acute or long-term care is often difficult. In many cases, professional recognition is required before they can start work—this can involve completing a training course and/or passing an exam to align their existing knowledge with German standards. A Munich hospital has now established a facility designed to bridge this gap.
A Competence Center for International Medical Staff has opened at its branch in Schwabing. The official opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) and the head of Munich’s health department, Beatrix Zurek.
Integrating International Specialists: Munich Hospital Launches New Competence Center
The new center is designed to speed up the process of getting international professionals approved to work in Munich’s hospitals and nursing homes. The city authorities aim to prevent the loss of candidates due to lengthy qualification recognition procedures. “Many skilled professionals come to Munich from abroad to work in nursing—and we need every single one of them,” emphasized Beatrix Zurek.
Approximately 500 international specialists already go through the qualification recognition process at Munich’s medical schools each year. According to the city administration, the new center will increase this capacity to 1,000 people. “I am delighted that through our cooperation with Munich Hospital, we have been able to virtually double the existing capacity for qualification recognition,” Zurek noted.
New Center Available to All Medical Institutions
The Competence Center will serve not only Munich Hospital but all of the city’s hospitals and nursing homes. “We are taking responsibility for securing healthcare in Munich,” stated Petra Geistberger, Managing Director of Munich Hospital. “Establishing this center allows us to create additional support for the entire city’s healthcare system.”
The decision to create the center was made by the city council back in 2023, a time when the Bavarian Red Cross was also calling for reforms due to staff shortages. After a tender process, the administration commissioned Munich Hospital to operate the center. “In certain areas, we are purposefully recruiting international specialists to strengthen our teams,” explained Geistberger. “We are preparing both our international staff and our in-house teams for social, professional, and administrative integration.” Dedicated facilities have now been set up for this purpose at the Schwabing branch.
A Three-Year Pilot Project: City Allocates Three Million Euros
The funding for the center amounts to approximately €3 million. “International specialists make an invaluable contribution to our healthcare system. Diversity is our city’s strength,” remarked Deputy Mayor Dietl.
She stated that the center, which will accept specialists from across Bavaria if capacity allows, is a “municipal project unique at the federal and state level.” The Schwabing center could “play a pivotal role in the creation of similar institutions across Germany.”
Initially, the project is planned as a three-year pilot. A decision on its extension will be made following an evaluation. The Munich Hospital’s educational campus oversees the center’s operations, utilizing existing structures for recognizing foreign qualifications. The premises at the Schwabing branch are currently being modernized to create a modern learning environment with simulation training and examination facilities.
Source: TZ
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