- Force-free Care Without External Intervention
In Saxony, as per Social Minister Petra Köpping (SPD), providing care to the elderly and ill individuals won't be feasible in the future without assistance from foreign healthcare professionals. "Saxony's nursing care for its residents will only be secured in the nearby future via the assistance of foreign healthcare professionals. We desperately need them," she declared to the German Press Agency. As of 2021 to 2035, there's a minimum deficit of 5,000 healthcare professionals in the ambulatory and inpatient care sectors.
Currently, Saxony's hospitals and care facilities are grappling with extreme staff shortages, a problem that will likely intensify as the population ages - currently, one out of four individuals is 65 years old or older. "In the upcoming years, the number of people over 65 will continue to escalate. We're getting older," stated the Minister. This surge in aging population exacerbates the shortage of skilled labor, particularly in the medical care and nursing fields.
A set of measures is required
Based on stats provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, over 74,000 individuals work in care facilities in Saxony. "To combat the staff shortage, a complete package of measures is required," said a ministry spokesperson. This includes fair remuneration, which has primarily been achieved through the implementation of collective bargaining since September 2022. Balancing work and family life is also a concern for numerous healthcare professionals: "In this particular area, employers are encouraged to play an active role."
The state backs nursing education, for instance, through an advisory center. Its purpose includes preventing dropouts from nursing training. An advertising campaign for social professions is also planned to allure individuals to nursing. Digitalization is also a key factor in enhancing the profession's attractiveness.
Welcome Centers and pilot projects
Increasingly, districts and independent cities in Saxony are introducing a service specifically for required skilled workers. For example, a tenth "Welcome Center" was inaugurated in August in the Free State, in Zittau. According to the Saxon Center for Securing Skilled Workers and Good Work (ZEFAS), such facilities are crucial contact points for both newcomers and employers for professional integration.
A pilot project for the training of international healthcare professionals started this spring at the Municipal Hospital in Görlitz. According to their own reports, the hospital currently employs individuals from 27 nations. A challenge with skilled workers from abroad is also the recognition of foreign qualifications. For instance, a project is underway at the TU Dresden to assist nursing professionals from abroad in overcoming potential deficits in their training.
The urgent need for foreign healthcare professionals becomes evident as Saxony faces a significant crisis in providing care to its aging population. With a minimum deficit of 5,000 healthcare professionals anticipated within the next decade, the crisis in the ambulatory and inpatient care sectors is likely to intensify.
The crisis in health care infrastructure and staffing becomes more alarming as Saxony grapples with extreme staff shortages, particularly in the medical care and nursing fields, due to its rapidly aging population.
