According to information reported by the University of Medicine in Tirana to the Assembly, the cost of studying in the “General Medicine” integrated study program is approximately 678,994 Albanian lek per year per student.

With an overall cost of 4 million Albanian lek for the entire 6-year study cycle, Albania has experienced substantial losses amounting to 45 million euros solely due to the emigration of doctors.

This figure does not include other associated costs resulting from the underutilization of medical professionals, according to data elaborated by the economic magazine Monitor.

OECD data taken into consideration, point out that the country has lost an estimated 1200 doctors to emigration until 2020.

Considering the cost of medical education studies, the loss amounts to a significant financial burden on the country, specifically the expenses borne by the University of Medicine to educate doctors who eventually leave for other countries.

In response to the growing concern of brain drain in the medical sector, the Albanian government has introduced a contract-based criterion for medical students, stipulating that they must work in Albania after completing their studies starting from the academic years 2023-2024 to 2027-2028.

The newly introduced law makes this agreement optional, but if not accepted, a fee will be levied.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has previously expressed his concern that Albania, being a relatively poor country, is unable to financially support the education of doctors whose expertise is subsequently utilized in other developed nations.

According to recent reports of the World Health Organization (WHO), the healthcare sector everywhere in the world is facing an emergency due to a severe shortage of medical staff, and the challenges are exacerbated by the ongoing waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The European Public Service Union (EPSU) has reported that nearly all EU countries are grappling with a significant dearth of healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, amounting to 2 million vacancies in total.

European governments must augment funding for healthcare and caregiving sectors and promptly respond to the demands of healthcare workers by investing in these essential fields.

The Omicron variant has once again highlighted the importance of adequate investment, as healthcare workers continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic response, according to WHO.

The recent European Commission’s Labor Market and Wage Developments report reveals a concerning trend of worsening shortages in the healthcare workforce.

Reports from medical unions in various European countries indicate that healthcare professionals, particularly those in intensive care units, are leaving their jobs due to high stress levels, inadequate workplace protection, and unacceptably low wages.

The situation in countries such as Germany, Spain, Britain, the United States, and Canada is particularly alarming, as they are grappling with significant staff shortages in their healthcare systems.

In a special report last year, WHO assessed the alarming shortages in the medical workforce. There is a pressing need for action to replace retiring medical professionals and retain new talents in the healthcare and caregiving sectors to ensure a robust workforce in the years to come. This was a serious problem even before the pandemic started, but has become even more concerning now due to demographic factors that contribute to an ever-shrinking workforce.

The WHO European Office urges countries to take immediate action in training, recruiting, and retaining the next generation of healthcare workers. Additionally, it notes that healthcare workers are suffering from poor mental health due to long working hours, insufficient professional support, staff shortages, and the heightened risks of infection and mortality from COVID-19, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic.

The WHO/Europe findings demonstrate that the availability of healthcare workers varies significantly among countries, with Central and Western Asian countries having the lowest density and Northern and Western European countries having the highest density.

Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasizes that the shortages of healthcare personnel, inadequate recruitment and retention practices, migration of skilled workers, unappealing working conditions, and limited access to continuous professional development are adversely affecting healthcare systems in less developed countries.

Urgent and strategic measures are required to mitigate the crisis and safeguard the healthcare workforce for a healthier and resilient Europe.