Migration of physicians: Causes and effects in CEE countries

Abstract

Physicians' migration revolves around the reasons of better structure of medical education, desire for better income, general security and improved prospects for family. Moreover, many Central and East European Countries are characterized by severe shortages, inappropriate skill mixes and gaps in health service coverage. This paper starts with a literature review about the determinants of migration. Most of the post-enlargement East-West migration flows have been pushed by the dissatisfaction with economic opportunities in new member states compared to the older ones. Is this the main reason as well for migration of physicians? And which are the effects of this migration in source countries? In order to answer to these questions, we have analyzed the health sector in CEE countries: health trends and patterns, education, employment, wages, physicians' migration by using descriptive statistics, factorial and regression analysis. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.