More physicians for Brandenburg

Neuruppin, 30 August 2022

Ten participants in the support programme “integration through qualification (IQ)” successfully passed the exam organized by the Brandenburg State Medical Board and are now entitled to practice medicine in the State of Brandenburg.

„Jana Kirchberger is in charge of the IQ project at the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) and highly pleased that a total of ten new physicians have thus been won for Brandenburg within just one year: “Foreign physicians from non-EU countries need to demonstrate the equivalence of their academic training and medical skills before they acquire the license to practice medicine in Germany or start a specialization.”

The MHB started the preparation course for the exam in June 2021. The exam, so Kirchberger, is a challenge, corresponding to the third medical state examination. Practical skills and theoretical knowledge are tested over two days. Based on candidates’ sound medical education and work experience gained in their home countries, the course focus is on internal medicine, surgery and general medicine. The curriculum also covers anaesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and pharmacology as well as the practice of medicine, the German health system and legal aspects. Instructors are medical specialists and experts in medical education. A further focus is on communicative skills which are rehearsed with the help of simulation patients. In this way, the course prepares candidates not only for the exam but for typical work situations in German hospitals and physicians’ offices.

Participants’countries of origin are Egypt, Armenia, Bosnia, Brazil, Georgia, India, Iran, Colombia, Kosovo, Libya, Morocco, Mexico, Nigeria, Palestine, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, Uganda and Ukraine. Kirchberger points with pride to the 100% success rate among MHB course participants in the exam, a result of “the high-quality curriculum, targeted educational concept and a positive learning atmosphere. “Three of our graduates pass on their experience as tutors to course participants, and we are confident that ten further exams scheduled for this year will be passed with success. All in all, we would then have 20 good reasons to continue the project next year.”

The programme started at the MHB in June 2021. It aims to sustainably improve the integration into the labour market of people with a migration background. The joint project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Employment Agency is co-financed by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BAMS) and the European Social Funds (ESF).

Contact:
Jana Renate Kirchberger
Project manager, IQ subproject “Preparation for equivalence exam for physicians”
Phone: +49 3391 39-14174
E-Mail: jana.kirchberger@mhb-fontane.de