Mitigating health workforce migration in Romania: policy lessons for Europe

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.