Scientific and Social Commitment
How did the Arab Medical Union in Europe come about?
Hassan Naggar: It all began in Frankfurt in 1983. There were eleven of us: doctors from Germany, France, and Italy. At that time, there was already a doctors' association in each of these countries, and we decided to join forces and coordinate our work in the form of an Arab Medical Union in Europe. Since then we have extended our work to Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, and even Eastern Europe. However, we have also noticed that there is still a great need for our work.
In what way is there a great need for your work?
Naggar: It's all about experienced Arab doctors who have been living here in Germany for a long time helping young colleagues that have come here from Arab countries and have no experience; just like we were when we started out. Many things were much easier in the 1950s and 60s: today the situation has got much more difficult. We want to help the young doctors successfully complete their medical training and encourage them to return home again at the end of it. There are many ways in which we can help.
What sort of ways do you mean?
Naggar: If a colleague from the so-called third world comes to Germany looking for a job, a German colleague or a colleague from another European country will take precedence over him in the application process. This is why we have agreed on a special deal: the colleagues forego their salary for a certain period in order to give them the edge over the German applicants. During this period, their salary is paid by the Arab Medical Union in the form of a scholarship.
At the same time, it is a security for the hospital where he works, because he wouldn't get the job without this scholarship. It would be illegal. In this way we have been able to help between 300 and 400 colleagues so far. At the same time, when they accept this scholarship, the colleagues also pledge to return to their native countries. We think this is important and worthwhile because it ensures that the expertise they have gained is given back.
How many members does the union have?
Naggar: About 3,000 Arab doctors in all of Europe. Half of them live in Germany and the other half live in Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria.
How is the union organised?
Naggar: We have a board that represents the whole of Europe. The board is assisted by an advisory council which comprises mostly German colleagues, because the lion's share of our activities is based in Germany. The members of both bodies - the board and the advisory council - are elected every two years. We organise a congress once a year where all members of the union meet and to which colleagues from Europe and the Arab world are invited to take part as guests.
We meet in Germany one year and in a different country the next. This year we met in Istanbul for the first time. The congress is always attended by between 200 and 300 colleagues. These meetings serve more than just a scientific purpose, they also allow colleagues to meet and get to know each other. This year, sixty-two colleagues from Iraq attended the conference thanks to the financial assistance of the WHO.
Apart from these congresses, what are the union's other activities?
Naggar: We look for donors in Europe and the Arab world. I was recently in Dubai and succeeded in convincing a very wealthy businessman to make a very large donation. This resulted in the delivery of incubators to the tune of $ 110,000, which we urgently needed for hospitals in Palestine. Prior to that there was a company that donated instruments needed for heart surgery.
We then brought these instruments to Palestine. These activities take up a lot of time. We also publish a magazine in Arabic, German, and English three times a year. This magazine is now very well known in the Arab world because it is the first scientific magazine in Arabic.
What sort of issues do you tackle in the magazine?
Naggar: Mostly topical issues. We have, for example, a renowned heart surgeon in Germany who regularly publishes his most recent research findings in our magazine. German and French doctors also write contributions for our publication. Unfortunately, there are not yet any similar magazines in Arabic in the Arab world.
Are there other projects that the union will be pursuing in the near future?
Naggar: We want to improve medical training in the Arab world. The basic training is very good, but there are deficiencies when it comes to more specialised training. This is why a private university at which the members of our union will teach will be founded in Syria in the coming weeks. This will be an enormous help for our countries.
Do people in the Arab world know about the Arab Medical Union in Europe?
Naggar: We are currently building bridges. But it isn't easy. We are aware of the difficulties. And we have experienced not only support and goodwill, but also rejection from doctors there. But we are doing our best to continue building bridges.
The founding of the Al-Andalus private university in Syria is a first step in that direction. This is a first success for us because we want to achieve results in our native countries. And just as the Arab doctors in the Middle Ages influenced Europe with their knowledge, we want to give some of the high, advanced knowledge in Europe back to our home countries.
Interview: Abdalahmad Rashid
© Qantara.de 2005
Translation from German: Aingeal Flanagan