Health professionals in Romania warn against doctors' exodus

(BUCHAREST) - The Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) warned Thursday against the local doctors' exodus to Western Europe, with almost 2,000 departures in 2011.

"During the first nine months of this year, 1,900 doctors left Romania", CMR chairman Vasile Astarastoae was quoted as saying, by the Mediafax news agency, during a meeting of the physicians' group.

Due to this migration, the number of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants is now 1.9 in Romania, 2.2 if dentists are counted, levels far below to the European average, Astarastoae explained.

"The health system suffers from chronic underfunding", he insisted adding that the wages of Romanian medical personnel are among the lowest in Europe.

Health minister Ladislau Ritli told the same meeting that the doctors' exodus was "a real and disturbing problem".

The flight to western countries seems to have accelerated due the the economic crisis, according to local media.

Last year 2,779 doctors requested the professional certificates necessary for the recognition of their diplomas abroad, double the 2009 figure.

The main destinations are France, Great Britain and Germany.