Enab Baladi – Amir Huquq

A monthly salary of 600,000 Syrian pounds is not enough for transportation throughout the month, and specialization students rely on their families for living expenses. Additionally, the work pressure and long shifts during the specialization period are factors that drive general surgery intern Mohannad Deeb to emigration.

In an interview with Enab Baladi, the second-year intern stated that, besides the high expenses during specialization, the uncertain future in Syria and the low salaries and wages of doctors, combined with the lack of participation in global events and international missions to gain experience, make the option of traveling and specializing abroad the best solution.

The medical reality in Syria has witnessed a continuous drain of doctors since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, which continues to this day. The difficult economic reality the country faces drives many of them to travel or emigrate to secure a decent life and assist their families, creating a significant shortage in the medical workforce.

It’s either material or moral loss 

Dentist Saleh Salman, who arrived in Germany a week ago, explained to Enab Baladi the reasons for his emigration, stating, “The economic situation has significantly affected the families’ ability to afford dental treatments. Either the doctor opens his clinic and offers services at low prices suitable for their conditions, thus losing a lot and turning his clinic into a charity, facing financial distress, or he raises his service fees and thereby loses his humanity, as is currently happening, and loses his patients as well.”

According to Dr. Salman, there are several justifications for emigration, including the lack of opportunities for participation in international missions and seminars for doctors that contribute to developing their skills, the scarcity of specialization and master’s opportunities, which are very few, and the high costs of scientific courses such as implant and extraction surgeries. Thus, the option of staying in Syria does not add anything to his medical journey.

He referred to the cancellation of mandatory military service after the fall of the Syrian regime and considered it insufficient for staying in Syria in his opinion. He believes that the dire economic situation facing families requires several years to improve, making it a gamble for doctors.

Germany is the primary destination for most Syrian doctors, as its universities are among the top international universities for studying specializations or practicing in its hospitals, along with several benefits they receive, such as obtaining German citizenship and high salaries.

Discrepancies in statistics

There are no accurate statistics revealing the total number of emigrating doctors, with several statistics providing approximate figures.

“There are no accurate statistics for the number of doctors in Syria,” noted Hussein al-Khatib, Deputy Assistant Minister of Health, justifying this by the large number of individuals leaving Syria or returning recently.

According to al-Khatib’s statements to Enab Baladi, “In general, there is a shortage of doctors in some specializations, particularly in anesthesiology, forensic medicine, emergency medicine, and family medicine.”

To cover the shortage, the ministry is working on opening contracts with physicians who wish to work with the ministry to compensate for the deficits in these specialties.

For his part, Dr. Malik Atwi, the head of the Doctors’ Syndicate in Syria, informed Enab Baladi that the total number of doctors in Syria is around 45,000, while over 10,000 are outside the country.

As for the most deficient specialties, they include anesthesiology and resuscitation, pathology, and forensic medicine, with the shortage rate in the anesthesiology department exceeding 75%, according to Dr. Atwi.

Why Germany?

Faisal Shahada, head of the Association of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany, stated to Enab Baladi that according to statistics from the Central Medical Association in Berlin, the number of Syrian doctors in Germany is approximately 6,000.

After communication by the Association of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany with the association last year and inquiring about the percentage of naturalized doctors from this number, the response from the Central Medical Association indicated that naturalized Syrian doctors are not included in this figure, meaning the actual number is higher, and it is estimated to reach about 10,000, according to Shahada.

He sees the justifications for doctors’ emigration to Germany as being due to the high level of training available in various specialties, in addition to the quality and robustness of the healthcare system, as well as the significant shortage of doctors that Germany has been facing in recent years, with no indications of improvement in the coming years.

Arab medical teams

A Saudi medical team from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, in coordination with the Al-Ameen for Humanitarian Support, began implementing the “Hope” Saudi volunteer program in several hospitals in Damascus since last February.

Dr. Ali al-Qarni, head of the Saudi delegation, noted that the program will require more than 218,000 hours of volunteer work involving over 100 volunteers and will continue until the end of 2025, covering all medical specialties and providing medical services and training.

A Qatari medical team arrived at Damascus International Airport on February 22 to perform surgeries in Syria, consisting of specialists in cardiac surgery from Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine Hospital, as part of the Medical Convoys Project implemented by the Qatar Red Crescent in several countries worldwide.

The doctors will carry out 80 cardiac catheterization procedures and correct congenital heart defects in children, in collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Syrian Red Crescent, in addition to supplying hospitals with the necessary medical supplies for these operations.

Assistant Minister of Health, Hussein al-Khatib, explained that these delegations come temporarily to cover the shortage in some specializations and to reduce the waiting list for certain surgical operations, such as cochlear implants, open-heart surgeries, joint replacements, corneal transplants, and kidney transplants.

He confirmed that the Saudi delegation will conduct several visits in phases, coordinating with the Ministry of Health, and will perform 1,000 cochlear implants and 1,000 corneal transplants, in addition to 500 joint replacements.

In response to the cooperation with foreign countries, the ministry received several promises from multiple nations that they will later enter Syria, perform surgeries, and provide medical consultations in various specialties, according to al-Khatib.

An invitation to German doctors

On February 12, a conference was held in Berlin among several medical organizations and Syrian associations, attended by a large number of Syrian doctors and members of the Association of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany.

Faisal Shahada, head of the Association of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany, explained to Enab Baladi that the conference focused on the potential for support from some donor entities to promote scientific exchange between Germany and Syria by sending delegations to conduct training courses and sharing the latest scientific developments in the medical field across various specialties between Syrian doctors in Germany and their counterparts in Syria.

He emphasized that the initiative will not be limited to Syrian doctors only, but given the strong friendship between Syrian and German doctors, German colleagues will be invited to participate in this project.

Recently, the Association of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in Germany opened an office in the capital, Damascus, a step that the organizers consider aimed at improving the medical reality in Syria through events and missions that will be established.

Shahada pointed out that the office will serve as a center for medical training, a workshop for exchanging experiences and practices with colleagues in Syria, and a key point for building healthy relationships with medical entities in Syria to support the healthcare sector.

Fears of return

After the fall of the regime on December 8, 2024, some countries feared the return of Syrian personnel working abroad, including doctors, especially in Germany.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “Parts of the healthcare sector will collapse if all the Syrians currently working here leave our country. It is important for us to offer those who are here, who hold jobs and have integrated, who have not committed crimes, and whose children are enrolled in our schools, to stay here for our economy.”