Translated with AI
According to a new report from the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe (WHO-Europe), the rapid growth in the number of foreign doctors and nurses in countries in the region is creating both new opportunities and serious challenges for the sustainability of health systems, the UN press service reports.
A doctor from Moldova, a nurse from the Philippines, a surgeon from Egypt—they are increasingly becoming the face of European medicine. According to a new WHO-Europe report, over the past ten years, the number of foreign specialists in the region's healthcare has increased exponentially: by 58 percent among doctors and by 67 percent among nurses. Moreover, the majority of them—over 60 percent of doctors and 72 percent of nurses—were trained outside of Europe.
“Behind every migration there is a story – a desire for a better future, but also a break with family and weakened health systems in the countries from which they leave,” says Natassia Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of Health Policy at WHO/Europe.
The East is losing personnel, the West is dependent on migrants
The report covers nine countries—from Ireland to Tajikistan—and shows how unevenly the effects of migration are distributed. Eastern and Southern Europe are losing thousands of professionals, exacerbating existing skills shortages. Meanwhile, Western and Northern countries are increasingly dependent on foreign workers. In Ireland, for example, more than half of nurses and 43 percent of doctors are graduates of foreign universities.
The WHO predicts that Europe will face a shortage of 950,000 health workers by 2030. To avoid the collapse of healthcare systems, the organization believes countries urgently need to implement retention strategies, improve planning, and invest in training.
“We encourage improved working conditions in donor countries and strive for greater self-sufficiency in recipient countries,” explains Thomas Zapata, WHO Regional Human Resources Advisor.
Migration is no longer linear
While migration was previously perceived as a continuous flow from south to north, today the picture is much more complex. Germany, for example, has become the main supplier of doctors to Austria, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. In Romania, the largest group of foreign medical professionals are specialists from Moldova.
Lessons and examples: how countries are adapting
The report provides specific examples of countries adapting to new conditions. Romania managed to reduce the outflow of doctors from 1,500 in 2012 to 461 in 2021 thanks to higher salaries and improved working conditions. Moldova has recorded a decrease in the number of requests to leave the country. Ireland, on the other hand, is expanding the training of local students to reduce its dependence on migrants.
WHO calls for coordinated action
The report calls on countries to invest in national education, strengthen retention strategies, adapt curricula to the needs of the health system, and establish transparent international recruitment agreements.
“Migration of health workers is a reality of the global world,” warns Azzopardi-Muscat, “but unless we ensure fair conditions, we risk deepening inequalities and weakening vulnerable systems.”
