Physician migration in Romania: a study on the emigration preferences within the Cluj County healthcare system

Authors

  • Bogdan Stancu Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy
  • Stefan Lucian Popa Second Medical Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Abdulrahman Ismaiel Second Medical Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Daria Claudia Turtoi Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Anca Monica Brata Department of Engineering of Food Products, Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea
  • Traian Adrian Duse Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Cristina Pop Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Maria Barsan Department of Occupational Medicine, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Alexandru Marius Padureanu Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Miruna Oana Dita Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Andrei Pop Second Medical Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Dinu Iuliu Dumitrascu Department of Anatomy, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Vlad Dumitru Brata Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Florin Vasile Mihaileanu Second Surgical Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Razvan Alexandru Ciocan Department of Surgery-Practical Abilities, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Claudia Diana Gherman Department of Surgery-Practical Abilities, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Daniel Corneliu Leucuta Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj-Napoca
  • Aida Puia Department of Community Medicine, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca
  • Ion Cosmin Puia Department of Surgery-Surgery III, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15386/mpr-2721

Keywords:

medical migration, healthcare system, healthcare professionals, strategies

Abstract

Introduction. Medical migration represents the movement of healthcare professionals from one country to another. The migration of Romanian doctors has evolved as a captivating and diverse phenomenon in the complex framework of global healthcare. As Romania struggles with its healthcare issues, many of its experienced medical personnel travel to foreign areas, lured by various factors ranging from economic concerns to the desire to gain clinical experience. The aim of this study is to elucidate the dynamics of this migratory phenomenon among physicians from Cluj County, Romania, between 2017 and 2022.

Methods. This retrospective study was performed between 2017 to 2022, and it was based on data from Cluj County Romanian College of Physicians, which included 571 specialist and consultant physicians from Cluj County who permanently migrated to other countries.

Results. Between 2017 and 2022, a total of 571 physicians permanently migrated from Cluj, Romania, to various other countries. Analysis of the gender distribution among these emigrants reveals a predominant female presence (58.1%) and a trend toward younger emigrating physicians, predominantly those under 30 years. In terms of professional specialties, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, as well as General Medicine/Family Medicine, are the most represented specialties, constituting 11% and 9.1% of the emigrating physicians, respectively. There was a declining trend from 2017 to 2021, followed by an upward trend in 2021.

Conclusions. Medical migration significantly impacts Romania’s Cluj County healthcare, intensifying workforce shortages and possibly in the future compromising patient care. Failure to address this may perpetuate systemic vulnerabilities, hindering optimal healthcare provision and necessitating some reforms for resilience and sustainability.

 

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Published

2024-09-17

How to Cite

1.
Stancu B, Popa SL, Ismaiel A, Turtoi DC, Brata AM, Duse TA, Pop C, Barsan M, Padureanu AM, Dita MO, Pop A, Dumitrascu DI, Brata VD, Mihaileanu FV, Ciocan RA, Gherman CD, Leucuta DC, Puia A, Puia IC. Physician migration in Romania: a study on the emigration preferences within the Cluj County healthcare system. Medicine and Pharmacy Reports [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 17 [cited 2025 May 22];98(2):203-9. Available from: https://medpharmareports.com/index.php/mpr/article/view/2721

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Section

Original Research