Croatia's brain drain

Editor—The migration of medical professionals from developing countries has become a global problem.¹ Although the temporary migration of doctors for training purposes benefits the country that doctors emigrate from through upgrading skills, permanent migration represents a net transfer of human capital from the original country.² New member states of the European Union have almost systematically experienced the alarming predictions of a brain drain after joining the union.³ Croatia may face a similar future when it joins the union.

We surveyed 204 final year medical students (response rate 85%) from the medical school at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Eighty four students were considering emigrating, mostly to the European Union (57), especially Slovenia (22). Comparison of the results with the same survey a year before showed an increase in the percentage of students considering emigration, from 31% to 41%, and confirmed Slovenia as the most common destination.⁴

A serious shortage of doctors in Croatia is reported.⁵ According to the new legislative scheme, a shortfall of 398 consultants in internal medicine and 340 consultants in surgery is predicted by 2007. Croatia thus faces substantial problems in healthcare provision.

Competing interests: None declared.

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