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Health systems in transition
Portugal
97
Table 4.6
Foreign health workers in the NHS, 2001–2015 (selected years)
2001
2005
2010
2015
Doctors
1 484
2 123
1 696
1 836
Inpatient care
696
1 050
778
873
GPs
590
795
543
538
Public health
19
22
19
41
Other physicians
179
256
256
384
Nurses
1 619
1 526
690
543
Other personnel
271
656
675
599
Total
3 374
4 305
3 061
2 978
Source
: ACSS, 2016b.
The economic crisis and deterioration of working conditions in the NHS
are leading an increasing number of Portuguese doctors to leave the country
(Table 4.7). The Portuguese Medical Association holds records of doctors
requesting the necessary documents to be able to practice medicine abroad.
A survey was conducted in 2014 to follow up on those requesting the documents
and reported that Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland,
France and Ireland are the main destinations (Público, 2014a). Reasons for
leaving the country are mostly related to better working conditions and more
attractive salaries paid abroad. Doctors emigrating are both specialists and
junior doctors pursuing their postgraduate medical training abroad.
Table 4.7
Emigration of Portuguese doctors and nurses, 2011–2015
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
No. of doctors
184
263
315
394
475
No. of nurses*
1 775
2 814
2 514
2 850
2 727
Source
: Authors based on data provided by the Portuguese Medical Association and the Portuguese Nursing Association.
Note
: *Figures correspond to the number of nurses who requested to the Nursing Association the necessary documents to be able to
practice abroad. Therefore, these figures illustrate a trend as some of the nurses may not have emigrated after requesting the documents.
Portugal has become a source country for nursing migration. Many
Portuguese nurses are seeking work opportunities abroad, in countries such as
Spain and the United Kingdom. Several recruitment agencies are operating in
Portugal (Público, 2014b), some of which try to recruit young nurses in nursing
schools. Better salaries and benefits, having a new experience, and lack of job
and career opportunities in Portugal are often pointed out as the main drivers
for young nurses’ migration.