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The European Journal of Health Economics

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Original Paper

Out-migration and attrition of physicians and dentists before and after EU accession (2003 and 2011): the case of Hungary

Author: Júlia Varga

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 9/2017

Abstract

This paper employs a large-scale, individual-level, panel dataset to analyse the effect of EU accession on the probability of out-migration on the part of Hungarian physicians and dentists between 2003 and 2011. The study uses event history modelling and competing risk models. The results show that EU accession did not at the time affect the probability of out-migration while after the end of the transitional period of restrictions on the free movement of labour from the new EU member states to Austria and Germany, the probability of doctors’ migration increased considerably. Relative wages and peer pressure also exercise a significant role in the out-migration decisions of young medical doctors. We also find that more than half of those medical doctors who left the country during the observation period returned some time later. The data furthermore suggest a massive flow of doctors to domestic jobs outside the health care system.

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EU-10 countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia.

EU-15 countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria, Finland, Sweden.

Data are not available for all EU10 and EU15 countries. Averages are for those countries for which data are available.

MoHProf reviewed the trends in international migration of health workers in 25 countries around the world, with a focus on migration within, to and from the EU [15].

PROMeTHEUS, looked at health professional mobility and health systems of 17 countries in Europe [16].

EU-8 countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Maternity leave is long in Hungary. New parents are entitled to 3 years of maternity leave during which they cannot be dismissed. Maternity leave qualifies the person taking it to other benefits, including pensions.

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Title: Out-migration and attrition of physicians and dentists before and after EU accession (2003 and 2011): the case of Hungary
Author: Júlia Varga
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-016-0854-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Out-migration and attrition of physicians and dentists before and after EU accession (2003 and 2011): the case of Hungary

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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