Criticism of long waiting times for foreign physicians

[Nils]

The long waiting times for approval of foreign (non-EU) medical graduates has been called to attention in a recent radio show program.

This Tuesday, migration minister Tobias Billström visited Halmstad Hospital to hear about the experiences of the dotors.

Among them was Akbar Haidary, who arrived in Sweden from Afghanistan eight years ago. It took him four years to get his Swedish medical license. Since two years ago, he is working at a health care clinic in Laholm.

- "I am very critical of the process. Why does it take so long?"

On average, it takes four years for non-European doctors to get a Swedish medical license. For EU doctors, the process is significantly shorter.

Though he lacked any concrete suggestions at the time, migration minister Tobias Billström thinks that something needs to be done about the situation.

- "We have to realise now that among those who come here from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq, here will be a significant number of people with medical experience and education. In some regards, it is our own fault if we fail to integrate them faster than we do today.

Original text in Swedish:
https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.a ... el=5954327