Ukrainian doctors in Portugal are facing challenges integrating into the healthcare system due to language barriers. Around 50 Ukrainian doctors, mostly women, have been unable to fully integrate into the Portuguese healthcare system due to a lack of support for learning Portuguese. Despite initial offers of help from the Portuguese Medical Association (OM) to suspend the official language test and provide mentorship, these measures were never implemented by the government. Carlos Cortes, president of the OM, has expressed concern over the situation and has been advocating for policy changes to prevent foreign doctors from being barred from practicing due to language challenges. This lack of support has left many Ukrainian doctors feeling frustrated and struggling to fully adapt to their new environment.
Data from the OM show that there has been an increase in foreign doctors practicing in Portugal, with Ukrainian doctors representing 3.9% of the total in 2024. Despite this increase in foreign doctors, language barriers continue to hinder their integration into the healthcare system. The lack of support for learning Portuguese has left many Ukrainian doctors struggling to fully adapt to their new environment and begin practicing in Portugal. The situation has prompted concerns from Carlos Cortes, who has been monitoring the issue closely and advocating for necessary policy changes to address the language challenges faced by foreign doctors.
In Germany, Ukrainian doctors face similar challenges in accessing the healthcare profession due to complex bureaucratic requirements in the qualification recognition system. Despite passing the German language test, foreign professionals often encounter obstacles in the lengthy accreditation process, resulting in only a small number of Ukrainian doctors receiving full accreditation to practice. The German doctors’ union and federal government are working to address these issues and improve the recognition of qualifications for foreign medical professionals. This highlights the broader problem of a shortage of healthcare professionals in Europe, with the World Health Organisation warning of a “ticking time bomb” due to this shortage.
In Ireland, Ukrainian doctors also face challenges in mastering the English language and navigating the Medical Council registration process. Ukrainian doctors describe this process as “lengthy,” indicating that language barriers continue to be a significant obstacle for foreign medical professionals seeking to practice in Ireland. The situation in Ireland reflects the broader challenges faced by Ukrainian doctors in accessing the healthcare profession in various European countries, including bureaucratic hurdles and language barriers. These challenges highlight the need for greater support and policy changes to facilitate the integration of foreign medical professionals into European healthcare systems.
Overall, the experiences of Ukrainian doctors in Portugal, Germany, and Ireland highlight the common challenges faced by foreign medical professionals in accessing the healthcare profession in European countries. Language barriers, bureaucratic requirements, and recognition of qualifications are key obstacles that hinder the integration of Ukrainian doctors into these healthcare systems. Efforts are being made in some countries, such as Germany, to address these issues and improve the recognition of qualifications for foreign medical professionals. However, more support and policy changes are needed to facilitate the effective integration of foreign doctors into European healthcare systems and address the growing shortage of healthcare professionals in the region.
