Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe
Abstract Health workforce migration is an important challenge for healthcare systems across Europe, with Romania facing one of the most significant impacts following its accession into the European Union. This article examines the trends, drivers, and consequences of health workforce migration in Ro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Human Resources for Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-01003-5 |
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| _version_ | 1849333064213200896 |
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| author | Tomas Zapata Teodor Cristian Blidaru Alexandru Rafila Radu Comsa Natasha Azzopardi Muscat Yanina Andersen Cris Scotter James Buchan Ioana Novac Khamis Al-alawy Nicolae Dragoș Garofil |
| author_facet | Tomas Zapata Teodor Cristian Blidaru Alexandru Rafila Radu Comsa Natasha Azzopardi Muscat Yanina Andersen Cris Scotter James Buchan Ioana Novac Khamis Al-alawy Nicolae Dragoș Garofil |
| author_sort | Tomas Zapata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Health workforce migration is an important challenge for healthcare systems across Europe, with Romania facing one of the most significant impacts following its accession into the European Union. This article examines the trends, drivers, and consequences of health workforce migration in Romania, particularly physicians and nurses, explores policy interventions aimed at mitigating its effects and assesses their effectiveness. The analysis highlights the strategies employed to retain and attract healthcare workers, including financial incentives, regulatory reforms, and expanded educational opportunities. The study shows a two-thirds reduction in the annual migration of Romanian doctors to mainly countries of the WHO European Region, decreasing from 1532 in 2012 to just 461 in 2021, demonstrating the significant impact of policy interventions on workforce retention. While these interventions have successfully increased the overall number of health professionals in Romania and reduced overseas migration, challenges remain in ensuring equitable distribution and addressing workforce shortages in key specialties and occupations. Romania's experience offers valuable lessons for other European countries facing similar challenges and offers policy lessons for addressing one of Europe’s most pressing healthcare priorities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3c233981caac4490995db52a2ed8aaa9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1478-4491 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Resources for Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c233981caac4490995db52a2ed8aaa92025-08-20T03:46:00ZengBMCHuman Resources for Health1478-44912025-07-0123111210.1186/s12960-025-01003-5Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for EuropeTomas Zapata0Teodor Cristian Blidaru1Alexandru Rafila2Radu Comsa3Natasha Azzopardi Muscat4Yanina Andersen5Cris Scotter6James Buchan7Ioana Novac8Khamis Al-alawy9Nicolae Dragoș Garofil10World Health Organization Regional Office for EuropeCarol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyCarol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyHealth Policy ConsultantWorld Health Organization Regional Office for EuropeWorld Health Organization Regional Office for EuropeWorld Health Organization Regional Office for EuropeWHO CC, UTSWorld Health Organization Country Office RomaniaWorld Health Organization Country Office RomaniaCarol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyAbstract Health workforce migration is an important challenge for healthcare systems across Europe, with Romania facing one of the most significant impacts following its accession into the European Union. This article examines the trends, drivers, and consequences of health workforce migration in Romania, particularly physicians and nurses, explores policy interventions aimed at mitigating its effects and assesses their effectiveness. The analysis highlights the strategies employed to retain and attract healthcare workers, including financial incentives, regulatory reforms, and expanded educational opportunities. The study shows a two-thirds reduction in the annual migration of Romanian doctors to mainly countries of the WHO European Region, decreasing from 1532 in 2012 to just 461 in 2021, demonstrating the significant impact of policy interventions on workforce retention. While these interventions have successfully increased the overall number of health professionals in Romania and reduced overseas migration, challenges remain in ensuring equitable distribution and addressing workforce shortages in key specialties and occupations. Romania's experience offers valuable lessons for other European countries facing similar challenges and offers policy lessons for addressing one of Europe’s most pressing healthcare priorities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-01003-5Health workforcePublic healthHealth system reformHealth workforce migrationHealth workforce mobilityHealth policy interventions |
| spellingShingle | Tomas Zapata Teodor Cristian Blidaru Alexandru Rafila Radu Comsa Natasha Azzopardi Muscat Yanina Andersen Cris Scotter James Buchan Ioana Novac Khamis Al-alawy Nicolae Dragoș Garofil Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe Human Resources for Health Health workforce Public health Health system reform Health workforce migration Health workforce mobility Health policy interventions |
| title | Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe |
| title_full | Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe |
| title_fullStr | Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe |
| title_short | Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe |
| title_sort | mitigating health workforce migration in romania policy lessons for europe |
| topic | Health workforce Public health Health system reform Health workforce migration Health workforce mobility Health policy interventions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-01003-5 |
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