The emigration of Albanian doctors is becoming the main threat to the functioning of the health system. The latest data in a publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the challenges of developing countries for the health workforce show that on average, about 150 doctors plan to leave Albania each year, a figure that almost equals the annual number of graduates from the only public medical university in the country. Practically, every new generation of graduates risks emigrating immediately after receiving their diploma.
According to shared WHO data, the stock of doctors trained in Albania working in 38 foreign countries reached 1,060 in 2020, while Germany alone counted 988 Albanian doctors in 2021, up from 149 in 2013, an increase of over sixfold.
This influx is linked to German policies after 2015, which recognized diplomats from Western Balkan countries and offered fast-track employment procedures.
The number of Professional Well-Being Certificates, the necessary document for working abroad that is issued by a doctor's order in Albania, has increased continuously from 2013 to 2023, the WHO study highlights.
An online survey of Albanian doctors abroad shows that 73.6% are aged 25–40, with a nearly even gender distribution. The majority are married, often to non-Albanians, reducing the likelihood of return.
According to Gëdeshi-King studies, around 22% of doctors trained in Albania work abroad today, while the emigration of nurses has followed a similar path, with 2,246 professionals leaving between 2010 and 2019, mainly to Italy and Germany.
The departure of doctors is further weakening the capacity to provide health services. In 2019, Albania recorded the lowest number of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants in the Western Balkans and the second lowest for nurses.
Internal migration to Tirana deepens the shortage of staff in peripheral hospitals, making it almost impossible to guarantee services in rural areas.
The government has implemented salary increases, with specialist doctors reaching 1,600 euros per month gross, while general practitioners received 1,200 euros per month in 2024 and nurses almost 800 euros. However, the difference remains deep, as a nurse in Germany earns around 2,900 euros gross, more than triple that of Albania.
With 45–50% of medical students still undecided about their future and Germany as the main destination, experts warn that emigration will continue. Efforts to improve working conditions and create incentives to return will be crucial to avoid further emptying of Albanian hospitals, notes the WHO study./ Monitor
