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Hungary healthcare staffing shortages worsen
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2026-07-29 08:35 UTC → 2026-07-30 04:37 UTC ·
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Hungary healthcare staffing shortages worsen
A July 2026 patient survey of Hungarian patients revealed that waiting times for showed specialist appointments have risen sharply, with the appointment waits climbing to an average wait now of 35 days and days, with some specialties—such fields such as endocrinology, dermatology and cardiology—seeing delays of 50‑85 days. cardiology facing 50‑85‑day delays. Over half of health institutions attribute the slowdown to blame a shortage of doctors, compounded by shrinking doctor pool, an ageing population and a growing burden of rising chronic disease. disease burden. The following day, officials warned that the country’s mental‑health system is remains in crisis. Fewer than 16 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents—roughly residents—about half the German rate—has left the sector unable led to keep pace with demand. More a record intake of more than 16,000 new psychiatric patients were admitted in the past year, the highest figure since 2010, while child‑psychiatry and a total patient load that now tops previous peaks. Child‑psychiatry is especially strained, with only 60‑100 child psychiatrists left in the public sector and dedicated units have collapsed falling from 36 to 13 nationwide. Experts fear the National Psychiatric and Addictology Institute may be unable to deliver services this spring, and the untreated mental‑health burden Untreated depression is estimated to cost the economy hundreds of billions of roughly 363 billion forints annually. Together, these reports illustrate a broader pattern A recent analysis by the Central Statistical Office revealed that the number of healthcare staffing actively practising doctors fell 2.3% in 2025 to 42,117, with a workforce dominated by middle‑aged physicians and a pronounced gender imbalance favoring women. Regional disparities persist, as Budapest enjoys over 63 doctors per 10,000 residents while counties such as Nógrád have just 21. The Hungarian Medical Chamber has highlighted these shortages across Hungary, affecting both general specialist care as drivers of longer waiting times for appointments and psychiatric services, surgeries and driving longer wait times, record patient loads, has called for systemic reforms and mounting economic pressures. better regional staffing distribution.
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- 2026-07-30 04:37 UTC Hungary healthcare staffing shortages worsen
- 2026-07-29 08:35 UTC Hungary healthcare staffing shortages
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