Congress. For the first time this year, German was chosen as the congress language at the congress of the Austrian-Arabic Doctors and Pharmacists Association in Vienna - as an invitation to the Austrian colleagues and as a sign of solidarity.

ki. The motto of the 29th Congress, which took place for the sixth time in Vienna at the beginning of September, was “Controversies in Medicine” – from ophthalmology and infectious diseases to dentistry and surgery. The special feature: Many of the “new doctors” who came to Austria from 2015 presented their skills in their specialist areas in numerous specialist lectures. This is how Dr. Eyad Kabalan also one of them as Congress President. Kabalan came to Austria in 2015 and now not only works as a senior physician in the surgical department at Hollabrunn Hospital, but has also been very active in recent years with courses and information offerings for his colleagues. The central contact point is the Österr.arab. Doctors and Pharmacists Association led by Dr. Tammam Kelani, who came from Syria 40 years ago, provided reliable support with important support.

Rocky road to citizenship Almost ten years ago, more than 200 doctors came to Austria as part of the refugee movement, mainly from the civil war-torn Syria. After intensive German courses, the nostrification of their studies with often extensive additional examinations and the medical German test by the medical association, many have now arrived in the Austrian health system and are involved in the care of patients with great commitment. In this way, they are compensating for the lack of medical professionals in many places, as Kelani noted. Citizenship is still granted on a very limited basis, although, according to Kelani, most of the new doctors meet the criteria. The immigration process should be accelerated, Kelani appealed to the Vienna city government. As a representative of the mayor and the city councilor for health, state parliament member Peko Baxant showed understanding. The immigration laws are “out of date, inhumane and paranoid” but responsibility lies with the federal government. Further information can be found in this one and this one Article.