Doctors and nurses with their mind abroad

In the first months of the current year, 820 doctors have applied for obtaining a job abroad, according to the information obtained by Radio Romania Actualităţi from the Romanian College of Physicians.

The Ministry of Health brings into attention the fact that since 2007 almost 20 000 doctors and 12 000 nurses have expressed their desire to work abroad.

Also, a recent study carried out by the Solidaritatea Center for Research and Social Development reveals the fact that the tendency towards migration of the medical personnel has been maintaining itself at a relatively stable level of 14 percent in the last four years, with an increase in the percentage of doctors.

"If until now the majority consisted of nurses, in the last year the accent has been increasingly put on doctors as well."

"It is obvious that the salaries occupy the first place, but the labour conditions, as well as those concerning labour protection measures also count."

"In addition, one indicator that has been undergoing an increase in the last four years is the difference in the level of civilization between the Western countries and our country", specified Viorel Rotilă, University lector and manager of the project.

The manager of the University Hospital Bucharest, Dr. Cătălin Cârstoiu, states that the new Emergency Receiving Point, which has been inaugurated recently, will not generate personnel problems, although 50 doctors have left the unity in the last two years.

"This problem will not generate personnel problems at the Emergency Receiving Point. It will be able to comply with the entire capacity, for sure."

"Should the need arise, I believe that occupying some positions by means of a contest will pose no problem, because the budget destined for paying the salaries does not reach 70 percent in our case. Therefore, there would be room for hiring", Cătălin Cârstoiu stated.

According to the study presented here, the main effect of a migration, accompanied by a personnel deficit, consists of the over-solicitation of the remaining employees due to the increase of the labour volume, with an impact upon the quality of the medical services offered to the patients.

The focus-group research was carried out between August 2009 and August 2011, its subject consisted of a number of 380 employees from the public sanitary unities in the South Eastern region of the country, with a maximum error of 5 percent.

Translated by: Mădălina Borcău
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University