The migration potential of graduates at a medical school in Romania: Does minority status matter?: A qualitative approach

Abstract

The international migration of healthcare labor is a significant social issue due to shortages in healthcare workforces at national, regional (European Union) and global levels as well. Possessing high-skill human capital, these professionals take advantage of their right to free movement, experiencing a strong pull effect from (more) developed countries and expecting a favorable reception. The aim of the research on which this article is based was to survey the migration potential of students who are graduating in medicine, dentistry, pharmacology and nursing at the University of Medicine and Pharmacology of Tirgu-Mures, Romania. Using interviews, the paper aspires to give a finely-detailed picture of their motivation for taking up employment abroad or staying in their homeland, the mechanisms behind their decision making and their views concerning how they intend to join and take part in the migration flows of healthcare workers in Europe.