The 4th Ärztekongress, organized by the Medical Academy and Care e.V. (MAC, https://medical-academy-care.de/) in Frankfurt on July 26–27, 2025, was attended by over 200 physicians who had migrated from Turkey. The event, themed “Medizin kennt keine Grenzen – Brücken bauen und Zukunft gemeinsam gestalten” (There are no borders in medicine – Building bridges and building the future together), explored numerous aspects of the professional journeys of immigrant physicians in Germany.
The two-day congress covered dozens of topics across eight modules. The first day focused on the physicians’ clinical experiences in Germany, the residency process, the approbation stages, academic career opportunities, freelance opportunities, and alternative employment opportunities. The second day focused on the role of artificial intelligence in medicine, basic information about the insurance system, professional integration processes, and ethical responsibility.
At the congress, Academic Solidarity e.V. board member Prof. Zekeriya Aktürk and the Academic Writing research group began collecting data for a study examining migration processes among participants using quantitative and qualitative methods. This group had previously published their migration-related research in various scientific journals (https://ijmshr.com/uploads/pdf/archivepdf/2024/IJMSHR_398.pdf, https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Zekeriya-Akt%C3%BCrk-ebook/dp/B0D8GM89R2, https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/111889/file/111889.pdf).
Participants also had the opportunity to network over breakfast and dinner. The conference hotel’s technical infrastructure and cultural offerings made the event a platform not only for academic but also for social solidarity. In the evening, a concert was presented under the direction of Ersin Kilic. Mr. Kilic, who works as a music and German teacher, has been volunteering for about six years in language training, particularly in preparing immigrant doctors for their specialist language exams. For this event, he assembled a band exclusively composed of immigrant volunteers, including three doctors. His 13-year-old daughter, Beyzanur, was also part of the group; she played both the bağlama (a traditional Turkish string instrument) and the bendir (a frame drum) (https://www.instagram.com/guel.zar).
Migration of Physicians from Turkey to Germany is No Longer Individual, but Massive
In recent years, the migration of physicians from Turkey to Germany has reached record levels. As of today, the “Doctors in Germany” Telegram group alone has 11,844 members. This number demonstrates that migration is no longer an individual choice, but a structural escape.
The economic crisis in Turkey, the increasing pressure on the healthcare system, and the burnout caused by political polarization are among the primary reasons behind this migration. According to data from the Turkish Medical Association, in 2023 alone, 2,685 physicians applied for a “Certificate of Good Conduct” to work abroad—up from just 59 in 2012 (https://www.ttb.org.tr/haber_goster.php?Guid=86cb0d7a-822c-11ee-bc4d-13da0eb35bac).
The “If They Go, Let Them Go” Mentality and the Numerical Reality of the Collapse
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement downplaying the emigration of physicians in 2022, saying “If they go, let them go,” is seen by many physicians as a turning point. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, the decline in doctors’ annual real income reached 30% in 2022. In an environment where inflation, even according to official figures, reaches 60%, physicians are caught between financial hardship and professional dissatisfaction (https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/secimden-sonra-yurtdisina-gitmek-icin-iyi-hal-belgesi-alan-doktor-sayisinda-rekor-2086732).
Furthermore, incompetence, increasing violence, and political pressures make practicing medicine in Turkey unsustainable. Many physicians emerging from this environment are heading to Germany, seeking not only a better life but also a more respected and ethically based professional life.
The Importance of the Congress: Knowledge Sharing, Morale, and Solidarity
The congress in Frankfurt was crucial not only for the transfer of knowledge but also for mentoring new physicians, networking, and collective morale building. The information provided was a vital guide, especially for physicians undergoing specialization or approbation. Such events, organized by MAC, not only contribute to the integration of immigrant doctors into the German healthcare system but also create a kind of professional resistance space against the socio-political collapse that Turkey is experiencing.
