Understanding the Migration of Medical Doctors in the Context of Europe

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to analyze the mobility of health professionals, in particular medical doctors within the context of the European Union (EU) to address some major policies and strategies to immigration. This chapter provides the major characteristics of the health systems in relation to availability of medical doctors and to their immigration. In this process, both the qualitative and quantitative components of the migration of medical doctors are addressed. Annual data and information are gathered from national reports and from several international organizations such as the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and World Health Organization (WHO). The results show that immigration of medical doctors occurs within and outside the EU. Moreover, there is a great variation in the proportion of foreign doctors across European countries. In some European countries, the reliance of foreign medical doctors is high: Switzerland, Ireland, United Kingdom (UK), and Slovenia. The largest inflows of medical doctors are reported in UK, Germany, and Spain. Outflows of medical doctors have increased in Germany, UK, Italy, and Austria. However, the net balance between emigration and immigration matters. Germany loses more doctors every year than it gains through immigration.