I forgot to tell you: in meantime you need to follow „Step 2: Register yourself into Swiss Med-Register & acquire GL Number“.
Have a great evening
R
Hey Greattime
So something I noticed in the form that we need to senx to MEBEKO for GL number, is that they mention "Lettre de motivation (contenant les éventuelles références en Suisse)", so basically a letter of intent with references from Switzerland physicians. Does thay mean that we need to have done observerships/electives to be able to apply for recognition?? If so, are they paid? And how easy are they to come by?
Hey Docmd
Yes, it's needed. In letter- introduce yourself & mention your intent in 1-2 sentences like you wanna work or do your specialisation.
No reference needed for it.
No prior electives or observership needed for GL number registration. It's meant for those who don't have recognisation (of non EU degree) & keep a record of non EU drs working in Switzerland on such scenarios.
Recognisation of degree is completely different process. Please read my earlier posts/ steps. I have written everything in very detail.
Don't think too complicated.
Have a nice day
R
Oh okay thanks man! Sorry just got a bit lost lol
Hello,
Thank you for the information. I read the entire thread, but I am still confused. I am a Canadian with Italian MD.
Does that mean that Swiss Medical Registry/GL Number is a separate process than MEBEKO registration? Or, since the degree is from EU, do I just need to apply for MEBEKO and they also do the Swiss Medical Registry/GL Number?
Also, it written that (for MEBEKO registration):
" Requirements for this recognition:
• The applicant has the nationality of Switzerland or of a Contracting State of Switzerland (EU or EFTA) or the spouse has the nationality of one of these states;
• The diploma submitted (including any additional certificates that may be required) must correspond to EU Directive 2005/36 / EC or in the EFTA Convention;
• The diploma (including any additional passes) was issued by the authority mentioned in the EU Directive or the EFTA Convention."
Does that mean that, as a Canadian, I am not eligible to even apply for MEBEKO registration with Italian MD?
Lastly, can you please do a very brief summary for what needs to be done for Non-EU citizens with EU medical degrees?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
FAQs
Hey Supermario
Honestly, in this specific scenario, I don't know the exact pathway very clearly.
Both "acquiring GL number" & "degree recognition" are processed by MEBEKO. For non EU degrees/ doctors - documentation are separately & there is min. 3yrs waiting time between both processes.
What I know about EU degrees: as my colleagues from EU with EU degree have told: both processes for them are done simultaneously.
In this thread/blog I've written 2 examples of my non EU fellows who acquired recognisation (EU degree) directly. Please read that.
All those working in healthcare sector in direct contact with patients (+ vets too) need to get themselves registered in swiss medical registry in order to acquire GL number.
I really don't have very clear cut for this. My suggestion: contact MEBEKO & do tell us too about their reply.
Nothing too thanks & I hope it would help you.
Have a nice evening
Best regards
R
Hello everyone,
I am a 6th year medical student interested in doing my medical residency in orthopedic surgery in Switzerland. I was born in Italy, so I hold an EU-member citizenship. Since our medical educations lasts for 7 years in Peru, I still have about a year and a half to go.
I am currently studying German in an intensive course and expect to reach B2-C1 level by the end of next year (2021). In addition, I have presented several research posters at international congresses and expect to graduate from my school with 2-3 published papers.
I am familiar with the swiss application process and how residency works. However, I have some additional doubts regarding my desired field of training.
1) I know orthopedic surgery is extremely competitive in the US, but not so much in Europe (at least in Spain and Germany). I would like to know how competitive this specialty is in Switzerland. Especially for me, an EU-member holding a non-EU medical degree.
2) Since the swiss residency training is very flexible, allowing for multiple changes in hospitals during residency, I'd like to know if first applying to a hospital in a small town for the first 1-2 years of training and then move to larger cities would increase my chances of being accepted into an orthopedics service.
3) Many people I have spoken with have told me that it's likely, at first, to be hired as an intern/uterassisten (arzt) or "arzt in praktikum" and then be given a residency job. Would you recommend this course of action in order to achieve an orthopedic suregry residency spot?
Thank you very much for your help.
Hi, and welcome.
Since you will appreciate that you are not the first and not the last doctor to enquire about how things work in Switzerland, drremobond's amazing work on this forum is a blessing. He has written up detailed explanations of many aspects of moving to Switzerland to work as a doctor, not only the formal procedures from a range of backgrounds, but also how best, strategically, to go about it.
I highly recommend that you work your way through his masterpiece, which will answer at least some of your questions.
Is your Italian fluent?
If so, might be easier to start of working in Italy, until you have some work experience under your belt, at least there you have no work permit citizenship issues. Then move to Switzerland. If your Italian is fluent it might also be easier to look at Ticino as an "in" to the Swiss system.
FAQs
No problem... happy to help.
I wish you all the very best for successful completion of medical degree.
Learning general german is really a good start in advance. Proficiency at work (in hospital) would improve gradually.
2-3 published papers are great to have on CVs & for a good initial impression but as I know it would not be of great help in getting you a job as Assistenzarzt(AA). For eg: I had a fellow AA from Peru, he had 2 published papers & wanted to do specialization in neurology. So,what he did: through some job agent in Peru, he joined as research student in an ongoing research work on multiple myeloma (in Basel) for 1.5 years at Pharma company (as non AA; without direct patient contact). After that he got 1 year work contract as AA in psychiatric clinic, which was not extended but he got another offer at neuro- rehabilitation center.
Orthopedics is really competitive branch here too. As far as I know: being an Italian (EU citizen) would make your stay in Switzerland easier as you’d be getting permit B or permit C directly.
But your degree from Peru (non EU) need to be recognized as other non EU degrees.
An alternative solution (indirect recognition), if valid/ you can manage:
One my colleague, an ophthalmologist from Mexico with Mexican medical degrees (note: she was already opthal. specialist in Mexico). She got herself registered in Spain (without living or working over there)- I don’t know the details/ process in Spain. Then she worked in different branches for 3yrs (1.5 yrs in opthal & 1.5yrs in Psychiatry) in Switzerland >> Then indirect recognition (no need of Staatsexamen); as she’s married to a swiss guy. After recognition, she started working again as ophthalmologist again. My point: you might opt this option, if you can. Read about “indirect recognition” in this thread somewhere earlier.
Recognized degree & proficiency over a language are big booster for entering into any branch, even if you are non swiss: that’s my close observation
You have mentioned the sequence correctly but try applying well in advance for any post (AA/ UA or AiP) ( but not sure whether you telling me or asking me :P)
Yes, for non german speaking doctors with unrecognized degrees: it’s usually this sequence. So, try out better in general surgery. For the fulfillment of requirements in orthopedic, read this (in german):
https://www.siwf.ch/weiterbildung/fa...rgie-traum.cfm
Kein Problem
Ein schönen Tag wünsche ich Dir.
R
Thank you so much for the replies, they have helped a lot.
Anyone that has additional information for my case, please feel free to respond.
Thanks again,
Marcos
Hello again,
So I'm having trouble finding positions of "médecin assistant" that don't require prior experience. When I try to email a "chef de service", they redirect me to their website. Is this the only way to find work? I should just check each hospitals website and hope they need a médecin assistant with no prior experience in Switzerland?
You could write to the hospitals directly, on paper, in an envelope.
Tailor your cv and your covering letter according to what that hospital does and what you have researched that they need.
If you already have a special interest, so much the better. In that case read up about the doctors who work in that field and have decision-making power, and write directly to them.
Focus on the more rural, more remote and less prestigious hospitals, as they, being less attractive, will have more difficulty to recruit staff and may be glad of an application.
Besides that, google extensively to see if you can find someone who comes from your country, and who now is a doctor in Switzerland, and see if you can learn from their experience.
In any case, if you do not already have a very good command of a local Swiss language, (speak, listen, read, write) then pour your energy into improving that. You will need it at all levels of your work. Your good command will make you more attractive to any Swiss employer.
Have you done your elective time in hospital- or you have NO experience whatsoever in hospital? And do you speak any of the national languages to at least B2 level?
I am at B2 French level yes. I haven't done any electives in Switzerland (did in the US), and I can no longer do electives since I graduated already as an M.D.
I worked a year in the Emergency Department as a resident in my country (outside Europe).
Thank you! Do you also think it would be easier to find work in a clinic versus a hospital?
OK was just checking- so you are not 'without' experience- electives + 1 year Casualty = some experience.
Not easy- for sure. One thing I can say for certain, you stand a much better chance in peripheral regions, where it is more difficult to recruit doctors, than in large towns, as Dorofiz says. Not sure how you would go about this- but I'd search for other Peruvian doctors- who may be more sympathetic in helping a young guy - again, as Dorofiz says.
Thing is I don't mind working in rural areas. But I can't figure out which french areas are considered rural.
Anything in the Jura, be it Vaud, Neuchâtel or Jura - away from Geneva, Lausanne and even Neuchâtel. Yverdon, St Croix, Val-de-Ruz, Val-de-Travers, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, and the whole of the Jura Canton, like Délémont, Porrentruy, etc.
Thank you! One more question, I contacted someone in Switzerland, they told me even if I do find a position and get accepted, it's almost impossible for me to get a work visa because I'm not European, is that true? I mean I would understand it being hard, but impossible?