Europe’s growing reliance on foreign-trained doctors and nurses could strain national health systems in the coming years, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a new report.

Sharp Rise in Foreign-Trained Medical Staff

According to the report, the number of foreign-trained doctors in the WHO European region increased by 58%, and foreign-trained nurses by 67% between 2014 and 2023.
The European region, which includes 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, is expected to face a shortfall of nearly 950,000 health workers by 2030.

By 2023, 60% of new doctors and 72% of new nurses entering Europe’s workforce had been trained abroad — largely in Germany and the United Kingdom, which account for most of this growth.

Unequal Impact Across Europe

The WHO report highlights an emerging divide: Eastern and Southern European countries are losing healthcare professionals to Western and Northern nations, worsening shortages where health systems are already fragile.

“This is not just about numbers,” said Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, head of WHO Europe’s country health policies team. “Behind every migrating doctor or nurse is a story of ambition and opportunity — but also strain on families and on the systems they leave behind.”

Aging Workforce and Recruitment Pressure

With an aging population and many doctors nearing retirement — over 40% of physicians in some countries are aged 55 or older — Europe faces increasing pressure to recruit from abroad.
The WHO warns this trend will likely intensify international recruitment, creating long-term sustainability issues if not managed properly.

Call for Fair and Sustainable Workforce Policies

WHO officials urged governments to focus on retention and fair recruitment, ensuring that cross-border migration of healthcare workers is ethically managed.
They also called for stronger workforce planning to handle various types of international work — from long-term migration to short-term contracts and daily border commuting.

“Health worker migration is a reality in Europe’s interconnected labour market,” said Azzopardi-Muscat. “It must be managed more fairly and sustainably.”