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In Albania, the Center for Economic and Social Studies announced today that the potential emigration of Albanian doctors is currently around 38.5 percent.
The Center presented the initial results of a study at an international conference, according to which over 50 percent of young and highly qualified doctors wish to leave Albania.
The study, based on a survey of over 500 doctors nationwide, in urban and rural areas, in public and private hospitals and health centers at all levels and territories, revealed that the potential migration of Albanian doctors is high, around 38.5 percent.
The co-author of the study, Dr. Ilir Gëdeshi, told Voice of America that the desire for emigration is even higher among young doctors.
"For the age group of doctors and healthcare workers aged 24-40, this goes up to 52 percent. Young doctors, those who have completed a specialization or studied abroad, doctors working in private hospitals, with the aim of Germany and developed countries in Western Europe," says Mr. Gëdeshi.
The driving factors for these emigration desires are economic demands, living standards, and working conditions. However, it's not just the salary that pushes them to another country, says the other co-author of the study, Russell King, from the Center for Migration Research at the University of Sussex, speaking to Voice of America.
"Economic treatment is only a part of the problem; other issues that need improvement are working conditions, career advancement, and quality of life. Albanian doctors interviewed for this study provided a group of reasons, where the economy predominates, as well as the lack of a long-term future for themselves and their children, whom they want to educate in a developed country," says Professor King.
He adds that similar reasons apply to doctors from other countries in the region such as Bosnia and Kosovo, where the departure of doctors has been observed.
Mr. King emphasized that for Albania, it is a real challenge to stop this flow of doctors leaving the country, especially to bring them back, by making significant reforms, especially in the healthcare sector.
The authors stated that Germany is very attractive to doctors from Albania and other countries because there is a regular system and all conditions are created for work with high standards regarding salaries, quality of life, good education, and social services.
Mr. Gëdeshi adds that all the Balkan countries are affected by the waves of doctor emigration, but in Albania and North Macedonia, this doctor emigration is high, and the trend is expected to continue according to measurements made on potential emigration.
"We observe that Albanian authorities are increasingly mentioning the issue of doctor emigration and are taking various measures. But the main factor here has to do with the increase in health expenditures, which is increasing from 3 percent. This issue also has to do with a reform of the healthcare system, giving a new perspective to young doctors on their further specialization and opening the way for young people to see their future in Albania," said Mr. Gëdeshi.
The study proposes taking measures regarding the emigration of doctors by creating conditions within the country to curb this trend of doctors leaving.
This phenomenon has affected the entire continent, from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo to Poland, Finland, Norway, or Ukraine at war, for which studies were presented at the conference.