[REVISION HISTORY]

European doctor shortage crisis deepens

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-28 14:00 UTC → 2026-09-03 12:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Across Europe, chronic shortages of physicians and trainees continue to strain health systems. In Slovenia, rain‑soaked queues at Cerkno and Sežana health centres in May highlighted the impact of retiring family doctors and gynecologists. Austria’s Vorarlberg region reported a critical lack of “basis year” training slots, while the Netherlands and Belgium face bottlenecks in vocational internships. In Romania, the crisis is marked by uneven resource distribution and a persistent brain drain. While a July 2026 government memorandum unlocked 6,850 positions, local officials have criticized the allocation as insufficient. In Slatina, the County Emergency Hospital received only 29 approved posts despite requesting 130, a decision described as “far below the real need and threatens patient access to care.” New data highlights a growing “desertification” in Romanian family medicine, particularly in rural areas. ~~In Mureș County, 45 family doctor positions remain vacant, with two-thirds in rural communities.~~ To ~~combat~~ address these shortages, Romanian ~~hospitals have intensified~~ medical institutions are intensifying recruitment ~~efforts. In Oradea, the Spitalul Clinic Județean de Urgență Bihor is holding competitions for various specialist roles, including neurosurgery, intensive care,~~ and cardiology. In Constanța, the Spitalul Județean Sf. Apostol Andrei is seeking 30 nurses for multiple departments. Recent developments show a significant focus on nursing vacancies and facility upgrades. infrastructure efforts. The Dr. Constantin Opriș County Emergency Hospital in Baia Mare has officially been granted clinical hospital status by the Ministry of Health, supported by over 100 million lei for ~~infrastructure and equipment~~ upgrades in neurology, cardiology, and radiotherapy. This facility is seeking 84 staff members, including 62 beginner nurses. ~~Additionally,~~ Other regional efforts include recruitment drives at Târgu Jiu County Emergency Hospital and the ~~“Dr. Nicolae Rusdea”~~ Gorj County Ambulance Service. Recent staffing successes include the addition of a medical rehabilitation specialist at Sibiu Pneumophthisiology Hospital ~~in Baia Mare is seeking seven general nurses for various departments. In Iași,~~ and the ~~“Sf. Spiridon”~~ integration of two young cardiologists at Târgu Jiu County Emergency ~~Clinical Hospital has opened competitions for 90 nursing positions across specialties such as cardiology, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology.~~ Hospital, bringing their cardiology team to seven doctors to ensure continuity of care.

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