Data analyst - Several physicians plan to step down in the near future.
Many doctors and dentists in Germany are getting ready to retire, this is according to the Federal Statistical Office. Around 31% of practitioners in the human and dental medicine field are 55 years or older, which is a much higher percentage than among all workers (26%). The number of doctors in the medical field has increased by 23% to a total of 502,000 within the last decade, and the older age group has seen a similar growth. A decade ago, the percentage of older doctors stood at 26%.
The office also states that the number of foreign doctors and dentists has significantly increased in Germany in the last 10 years. By 2023, there will be about 62,000 foreign healthcare professionals in the country, which is around 12%. In contrast, a decade ago, there were only 29,000 foreign healthcare professionals, and they accounted for 7% of the total. The large number of foreign doctors in Germany can be attributed to immigration patterns. Last year alone, almost a quarter of all doctors in the country were foreign nationals. Some of these doctors now hold German citizenship.
Moreover, the number of students joining human medicine programs has been on the rise, reveals the Federal Statistical Office. Last year, 14,300 individuals began studying human medicine during the winter semester. The number remains relatively consistent in dental medicine. In the same winter semester of 2022/2023, 1,900 students started their studies, similar to the number from a decade ago.
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In light of the impending retirements, Germany's professional life in the healthcare sector is facing a potential lack of doctors. The aging of doctors in Germany is a significant concern, with 31% of practitioners in human and dental medicine at 55 years or older, a figure higher than the national average of 26%. Wiesbaden, like many cities in Germany, may be affected by this shortage, as the retirement wave could impact local healthcare services.
Source: www.stern.de
