A recent study in Germany on migration to the Western Balkan countries found that approximately 30% of healthcare staff from Albania had migrated to Germany by 2023.
Bosnia and Kosovo are even more affected, according to the study. In 2023, the number of Kosovar citizens working in the German healthcare system was equal to 50.3% of the domestic healthcare workforce. The corresponding figures were 42.5% for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9% for North Macedonia, 13.9% for Montenegro and 7.2% for Serbia.
Between 2015 and 2024, employment of Western Balkan nationals in the healthcare sector in Germany grew by an average of 27.2% per year, while for Albania the growth is 17% each year.
During this period, immigration pressures on the healthcare sector in the Western Balkans region have increased.
United Nations projections show that the population aged 75 and over is expected to increase significantly in the region, while the working-age population is expected to decline. These developments will increase the demand for healthcare in the Balkans and Albania.
Meanwhile, healthcare systems in the Western Balkans are showing signs of strain. This was illustrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, where all Balkan countries recorded mortality rates above the global average.
Another indicator of the systemic strain on health systems is the low number of doctors compared to Western European countries.
According to the World Health Organization (2024), Albania has the fewest doctors per capita in Europe. In North Macedonia, the number of doctors per capita has even decreased, partly due to the emigration of doctors abroad.
The German study notes that the emigration of healthcare workers directly worsens the workload, as shortages translate into longer waiting times, lack of service in rural areas, and greater workload for remaining doctors./Monitor
