A German State Warns: Return of Syrian Refugees Affects Drug Supplies

The Pharmacists Association in the German state of Thuringia warned that ongoing debate over the return of Syrian refugees to their country could affect medicine supplies.

In a statement issued on April 20, the association said it has 1,949 members, including 57 Syrian pharmacists, about 3% of all pharmacists in the state.

Their share rises to about 4.5% among licensed employees in public pharmacies, according to the statement. The association also said there are large numbers of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are still in the process of obtaining accreditation, or who are already working inside pharmacies.

It said the role of these professionals goes beyond ensuring the availability of medicines. It also extends to building a sustainable professional future for them inside the German state. Amid a shortage of qualified staff, they represent an essential part of the future of the pharmacy sector.

Human and Professional Loss

Danny Neidel, managing director of the Thuringia Chamber of Pharmacists, said the decision to return home deserves respect. He stressed, however, that the departure of any pharmacist represents a human and professional loss that directly affects the healthcare system.

He added that the state, especially because of its rural character, cannot bear any further gaps in the healthcare network, as every pharmacy is a vital part of providing medical services to residents. The medicine supply sector, particularly in rural areas, is still facing major pressure.

Since 2008, 27 cities and villages have lost their pharmacies, often because of a shortage of pharmacists, according to the Thuringia pharmacists association. The association also said that pharmacists with international experience taking over the management of some pharmacies in recent years has helped stabilize supplies. It warned that a drop in their numbers as a result of returning to their home countries could worsen the situation.

The Thuringia Chamber of Pharmacists called for caution in dealing with these debates, stressing the need to take into account their direct impact on vital infrastructure, foremost the healthcare system, alongside their humanitarian and political dimensions. Neidel also expressed hope that many Syrian pharmacists will continue to settle and work in the state, noting that they have become an integral part of society and contribute significantly to ensuring the availability of essential services and goods for residents.

372 Syrian Doctors in Thuringia

The Medical Association in Thuringia said the state recorded another increase in the number of foreign doctors, whose total exceeded 2,000 at the start of 2026. By the end of 2025, Syrian doctors remained the largest group of foreign doctors working in the state, reaching 372, compared with 364 at the end of 2024.

In this context, the head of the Thuringia Medical Association said recent calls for Syrian refugees to return to their country are causing concern because of their potential impact on the continuity of the state’s healthcare system.

Syrian Doctors’ Migration to Germany

Faisal Shahada, head of the Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists Association in Germany, previously told Enab Baladi that, according to statistics from the Central Medical Association in Berlin, the number of Syrian doctors in Germany stands at about 6,000.

After the Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists Association in Germany contacted the association in 2024 and asked about the share of naturalized doctors included in that figure, the Central Medical Association replied that naturalized Syrian doctors were not included. That means the real number is higher and may reach 10,000, according to Shahada.

Shahada said Syrian doctors migrate to Germany because of the very high level of training across different specialties, in addition to the quality and strength of the medical system and scientific and technological development. Above all, he said, Germany has faced a major shortage of doctors in recent years, with no signs of improvement in the years ahead.

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