German politicians have proposed a new plan to make international medical students who leave the country after graduation pay for their education in full. The idea was put forward by Sepp Müller, the deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, who stated that those who study in Germany should at least stay in the country for five years to practice their profession. He emphasized that the country invests a significant amount of money in the education of medical professionals, including doctors, but many of them return to their home countries after graduation, resulting in a “multi-million euro subsidy” that the government does not benefit from.
Tino Sorge, the state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, also expressed the need to stop the brain drain of international medical students after they complete their studies. He emphasized that the goal should be to retain high-skilled professionals in Germany, rather than watching them leave. Sorge pointed out that each medical study place is associated with high costs and the government should focus on attracting young doctors to work in Germany, rather than allowing them to leave the country.
Florian Müller, the research policy spokesperson of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, suggested that the federal states should regulate the recovery of study costs on their own. While he acknowledged that the states have the authority to set study fees, he emphasized the need for the government to take a stronger stance in retaining international talent after graduation, stating that there is indeed room for growth in this area.