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Abstract:
Professional mobility within the European Union is likely to become a significant political issue in future years. Already there are shortages in specific specialties, such as anaesthetists and paediatric intensive care nurses, and these shortages are likely to become more serious. The European Union is encouraging mobility of health professionals but, given the disparity between salary scales - especially between EU15 and the "new" member states - this may lead to significant numbers of health professionals moving from countries with lower salary scales to those with higher scales. The problem will be exacerbated if the traditional sources of doctors and nurses - countries like the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka etc. - dry up, as these countries decide that it is against their interests to export such precious resources.
Useful management data is required if the flows of health professionals to member states from outside the EU, and between member states is to be properly understood, providing a basis for policy and management decisions which will involve not only health policy makers but also Ministries of Education with responsibility for medical schools.
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