The College of Physicians in Romania (CMR) indicates that doctors’ migration continued to increase in 2014. The college last year registered a total of 2,450 applications for the issue of certificates that allow doctors to work abroad.

It is estimated that 3,000 doctors enter the system annually, a higher number leaving the system – 3,500 – through migration, retirement or death.

“The most worrying situation is encountered in hospitals. There are only 13,521 doctors left in Romanian hospitals, compared to 20,648 in 2011 and 14,487 in 2013, while the required number is 26,000, according to the Ministry of Health. The situation is even more worrying considering that, based on age, 2,961 of the doctors in hospitals are aged over 60, 2,610 are between 50 and 60, 3,642 are aged between 40 and 50, 3,901 are between 30 and 40 and only 407 are aged under 30,” said CMR president Vasile Astărăstoae, cited by local Mediafax.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com