Chinese doctors in Bautzen: A look at the future of cardiac medicine!

Chinese doctors in Bautzen: A look at the future of cardiac medicine!

In the past few days, the Oberlausitz clinics in Bautzen were pleased to receive a very special visitor. Two Chinese doctors, Zhang Wei and Wang Guoping, and operating room nurse Guo Xiaojing spent a week examining the hospital's new cardiac catheter laboratories. The aim of this internship was to gain valuable insights into the processes and quality assurance in German medicine. Säschsische.de reported that the experts observed medical interventions, including the use of a defibrillator and ablation to treat cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiologist Prof. Dr. Steffen Schön supported the team by explaining the technical details in English, and the whole thing was accompanied by a translator for the technical terms.

The managing director of the Oberlausitz Clinics, Jörg Scharfenberg, uses the opportunity to point out the ongoing shortage of nursing staff in Germany. This is a real challenge for inpatient hospital care. A recent study by CWC Recruitment shows that 94% of hospitals have vacancies in general wards and even 3 out of 4 intensive care units have vacant positions. Forecasts indicate that there will be a shortage of around 350,000 nursing staff by 2035.

International recruiting in focus

In order to counteract this development, the Oberlausitz clinics rely on international recruitment. As early as September 2024, a delegation led by District Administrator Udo Witschas was sent to Shanxi, China, to conclude cooperation agreements with health facilities there. Chinese nursing staff show great interest in training in Germany. You come to Germany with a completed bachelor's degree, including a six-month practical phase. They also have at least B1 German language skills and have already prepared extensively for life and work in Germany. Curicum.de highlights that these candidates are among the top 20% of their class, which makes their selection for employment in Germany even more attractive.

In order to promote the integration of international nursing staff, the OLK is planning, among other things, language courses, qualification adjustments and cultural preparations. Long-term measures are also planned: three-month training stays are planned for young doctors from Changzhi in Bautzen and Dresden. Conversely, German doctors should travel to China to teach modern surgical methods. Changzhi, the hometown of the professionals, has a population of 4.3 million and is equipped with a people's hospital that treats 1.2 million cases annually. This gives an impression of the qualities that these specialists bring with them and which can be of great value for the German healthcare market.

The challenges in the German healthcare system are great. The shortage of skilled workers has increased in recent years and hospitals expect the situation to worsen. Innovative approaches to international recruitment are therefore essential to ensure the quality of care in Germany.