German junior doctors are leaving clinical medicine

Being a medical doctor is still by far the most popular and trustworthy profession in Germany, according to a recent opinion poll. About 70% of the German population voted for the medical profession, followed by priests with 38% (multiple votes were possible). Also, every year about four candidates apply for each of the several thousand places in the 34 German medical schools, making medical careers some of the most sought after.

The initial enthusiasm of students for clinical medicine does not last until the end of their studies, however. Confronted with hospital reality, about 40% avoid working in exhausting jobs on the ward or in the outpatient department after their final exam in preference for office jobs in hospital quality management, health insurance companies, consultancy firms, or the pharmaceutical industry.

Also, a steady exodus of junior doctors towards other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, or Scandinavia, the United States, Australia, and Canada is threatening to drain Germany of its badly needed medical workforce. Currently about 6000 doctors are working the UK, many of them head hunted …