Brain drain leaves Romania’s health service in crisis – the flip side of migration

Only two months ago, the front pages of many British newspapers displayed shocking headlines predicting a huge wave of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria following the easing of EU border controls. It was predicted that the migrants would be from the very poorest areas and that they would be ready, with packed bags, to flee to the UK on the stroke of midnight on 31st December 2013 to take advantage of our benefits system, health service and housing. The “flood” of poor Eastern Europeans failed to materialise – but the movement of highly skilled medics to the UK and other EU nations is proving critical for the Romanian health service.

This article from The Guardian explains the situation with some interesting facts and figures. It also highlights the link with Romania’s ageing population – a demographic feature which means the lack of doctors specialising in geriatrics is particularly worrying.

Romania's population pyramid can be seen here. This website enables you to look at past and projected pyramids.

When studying migration, geographers are asked to consider the consequences for the receiving (host) country, the country of origin and for the communities and individuals involved. The brain drain has serious implications for the country of origin. The uproar we saw about this migration on the front pages of many newspapers seems to have been unfounded; the negative effects for Romania have been less well publicised.