Syrian doctors are returning home to provide free medical care and help rebuild their country’s shattered healthcare system, bringing with them expertise and experience gained while working in Germany.
The German medical community has come together to support Syrian Doctors who have been working in Germany, providing them with an opportunity to return home and help rebuild the country’s shattered health system.
Syrian doctors have been at the forefront of providing medical care amidst the country's civil war.
With over 12,000 healthcare workers killed or injured since 2011, many have fled to neighboring countries in search of safety.
Those who remain face significant challenges, including lack of resources and equipment.
According to a 2020 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly half of Syria's hospitals were destroyed or severely damaged during the conflict.
Despite these obstacles, Syrian doctors continue to work tirelessly to provide essential medical services to their communities.
For many years, Syrian Doctors have been working in Germany, but now they are returning to their homeland to provide free medical services. The Syrian German Medical Association (SGMA) has organized a number of missions, bringing together 85 doctors who are providing educational lectures, assessing the state of Syria’s healthcare system, and performing surgeries around the country.
The need for medical assistance in Syria is great, with many hospitals lacking outdated equipment. ‘Nothing has been renewed‘ since the war, highlighting the significant challenges facing the country’s healthcare system, noted by Ayman Sodah, a senior physician and cardiologist at the Rhön Klinikum in Bad Neustadt, Bavaria.
Despite the difficulties, the SGMA’s efforts have been well-received by locals. ‘Every Syrian had, at the back of their minds, a fear that was connected with Assad‘, said Mustafa Fahham, a senior doctor in the nephrology and dialysis department at Bremerhaven Hospital, expressing his excitement about being able to help support the Syrian health system. ‘Now that fear is gone. So I’m feeling good, and I am happy to be here in Damascus, where I’m able to finally help support the Syrian health system.’
The SGMA’s mission has also been supported by local NGOs and the German Ministry of Health, which has provided permits for the doctors to work. However, despite this support, many of the doctors are considering returning home permanently due to concerns about increased far-right and anti-immigration attitudes in Germany.
For these Syrian Doctors, the decision to return home is not an easy one. Many have been working in Germany for years and have built new lives there. However, they feel a strong sense of loyalty to their homeland and a desire to contribute to its reconstruction.
As one doctor noted, ‘Syria needs a lot of help right now to rebuild its healthcare‘. But Germany also needs Syrian Doctors and medical personnel. The SGMA’s efforts are seen as an important step in bridging the gap between Syria and Germany, and providing both countries with much-needed medical expertise.
