Foreign Vets to the Rescue: Alleviating the Shortage of Veterinarians Amidst Rural Crisis
Foreign Veterinarians Being Sought Due to Domestic Shortage of Skilled Workers - Consultation held on animal and environmental protection draft directive by the Commission
Every town needs a doctor—and that goes for our furry friends too! Due to the persisting vacancies in rural areas, veterinarians are increasingly being courted from foreign shores. Matthias Link, a vet from Varrel near Kirchdorf, has been employing overseas vets since 2024.
enters the spotlight when Asal Ilkhani Zadeh, a 30-year-old Iranian vet, moved to the quaint village of Sulingen. "The dialect here was challenging at first, especially when under pressure with their pets," admitted Zadeh.
Both Zadeh and her colleague Mohammad Ranjbar, a 33-year-old vet from Tabriz, Iran, affirm that the work overseas bears little difference from that in their home country. While Zadeh focuses on small animal practice, Ranjbar caters to livestock practice. Curious terms like 'milk fever', 'stone calf', or 'farrowing' were picked up from farmers during their initial farm visits in Varrel. Ranjbar is still smitten by north Germany: "I adore the tranquility and beautiful scenery here, and the friendliness of the people."
As the number of vets nationwide grows since 2013, many only work part-time, and over 70% of the veterinary community is female. By 2034, around 3,000 out of 6,819 practitioners in Lower Saxony will reach retirement age, leaving a hefty void to be filled. "I work 50-60 hours a week," says Dr. Link, a 61-year-old vet who's been running his practice for 28 years, "I'd need one and a half to two new assistants."
address the scarcity of qualified vets due to the impending exodus of the older generation. Alas, the issue has been delayed in the Bundesrat. "Not only practice owners, but also veterinary offices are grappling with staff shortages," regrets Minister of Agriculture Miriam Staudte (Greens). Controlling diseases, feed, and food safety are at stake too.
encourage the simplification of the process of recognizing foreign veterinary qualifications. As a temporary solution, a knowledge test could be implemented instead of scrutinizing documents. For now, foreign recruitment appears to be the only practical route to cope with the pressing labor shortage.
Link, who's previously hired vets from Iran, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, and Guinea-Bissau, emphasizes the importance of language skills in the profession. "80% of our job is psychologically-driven," he stresses.
[5] Germany offers sponsored visas for skilled workers, including veterinarians, to tackle labor shortages.[Reference: The Local Germany, 2021][Reference: Statista, 2021][Reference: Money Web, 2021][Reference: iRefer, 2021][Reference: Berliner Morgenpost, 2021][Reference: Deutsche Welle, 2021][Reference: Handelsblatt, 2021][Reference: Lower Saxony Veterinary Chamber, 2021]
The Community policy could consider simplifying the process of recognizing foreign veterinary qualifications to address the scarcity of qualified vets, as a temporary solution, a knowledge test could be implemented instead of scrutinizing documents. In light of the pressing labor shortage, the implementation of vocational training programs in health-and-wellness sectors, such as veterinary medicine, could be beneficial for fostering an inclusive and skilled workforce.
