Growing Dependence of Europe on Foreign-Trained Doctors and Nurses (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report stating that Europe is increasingly relying on healthcare professionals trained outside its borders. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of foreign doctors practicing in the region jumped by 58%, while the number of foreign nurses increased by 67%. Meanwhile, annual arrivals of new practitioners have skyrocketed: they have nearly tripled for doctors and quintupled for nurses. In 2023, the majority of these professionals came from outside Europe: 60% of newly established doctors and 72% of newly established nurses were trained outside the region. This trend is exacerbating imbalances: some Eastern and Southern European countries are experiencing a brain drain of medical talent to their neighbors, worsening already critical shortages. In contrast, Western and Northern European countries are becoming increasingly dependent on this international workforce. Ireland is a notable example: more than half of its nurses and 43% of its doctors were trained abroad. The report also highlights unexpected internal flows: Germany has become one of the main exporters of doctors to Austria, Switzerland, and Bulgaria, while Moldovan practitioners make up the largest foreign contingent in Romania. With an estimated shortage of 950,000 healthcare professionals by 2030, the WHO is calling on European states to strengthen their retention policies and better plan their medical workforce management.
