Migration potential of graduates in a medical school in Romania. A qualitative approach

Abstract

The international migration of healthcare labor is a significant social issue due to shortages in healthcare workforces at national, regional (European Union) and global levels as well. Possessing high-skill human capital, these professionals take advantage of their right to free movement, experiencing a strong pull effect on the part of (more) developed countries and expecting a favorable reception.

The aim of the research on which this article is based is to survey the migration potential of graduating students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacology and nursing in the University of Medicine and Pharmacology of Tirgu- Mures, Romania. Using interviews, it also aspires to give a finely-detailed picture of their motivations for being employed abroad or staying in their homeland, the mechanisms of their decision making and of their views on how they intend to join and take part in the migration flows of healthcare workers in Europe.