Berlin, September 3, 2025 – Ostwerk, a subsidiary of Sparda-Bank Berlin, has announced an investment in Get2Germany, a Berlin-based startup that supports international physicians in navigating the complex path to practicing medicine in Germany. The partnership is designed to help ease the country’s growing shortage of doctors, particularly in underserved regions.
For Ostwerk, this marks its first investment aimed at strengthening mission-driven startups in eastern Germany. By combining entrepreneurial innovation with cooperative strength, both partners share a clear goal: bringing more international doctors into German hospitals and clinics where they are urgently needed.
A Digital Platform for Recognition
Get2Germany has developed a digital platform that guides foreign-trained physicians step by step through Germany’s recognition process — from document checks to language exams and eventual job placement. The goal is to accelerate integration and deploy doctors more quickly, especially in rural areas.
“We’ve seen the shortage of medical specialists worsen for years, particularly outside metropolitan centers. With Ostwerk, we’ve found the right partner to build bridges between international doctors and the German healthcare system,” said Dr. René Rheimann, co-founder and CEO of Get2Germany.
Johannes Ulrich, managing director of Ostwerk, underscored the urgency: “Demographic change is real. We need international professionals, especially in medicine, which an aging society depends on. Get2Germany offers a smart, timely solution.”
The Numbers Tell the Story
- By 2035, nearly 1.8 million jobs in Germany’s healthcare sector could remain unfilled, according to PwC.
- Today, at least 20,000 foreign-trained doctors in Germany are still waiting for their qualifications to be recognized.
Get2Germany aims to close this gap by lowering bureaucratic hurdles and speeding access to the labor market — an especially pressing challenge in eastern Germany, where shortages are most acute.
About Ostwerk
Ostwerk is the investment arm of Sparda-Bank Berlin. It backs entrepreneurs with capital, advice, and networks to improve quality of life and strengthen communities across eastern Germany.
About Get2Germany
Get2Germany is the first end-to-end digital platform for the recognition of international healthcare professionals in Germany. It combines personal guidance with digital tools to streamline every step of the process — from document verification to exam preparation and career integration.
Interview Contacts, Press Info & Background Material
- About the platform: get2germany.com; eGuide: get2germany.com/en/auth
- Interview contacts: Dr. René Rheimann, CEO of Get2Germany, Johanna Engelhardt, CSO of Get2Germany, Pasha Alidadi, CTO of Get2Germany
- Press contact Get2Germany: Anne-Sophie Peverali (Senior Communications Manager, Get2Germany), [email protected]
- Further media resources: Study on physician shortages in Germany by PwC; Physician Shortage in Germany