<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The
\nRomanian diaspora is the world’s fifth largest diaspora, and the sixth largest
\nwithin the OECD countries. In Romania’s case, migration is the obvious cause for
\nthe country’s population diminishing. These are the conclusions of an OECD
\nreport. Most Romanian migrants are poorly skilled, while the higher education
\ngraduates among migrants are overqualified. Nearly half of the Romanian higher
\neducation graduates who migrated to OECD countries have poorly skilled jobs.
\nMen usually work in the construction sector, while women find employment in the
\nhousehold industry. Notwithstanding, the medical doctors in the diaspora make a
\nlarge and clearly-defined community. Hospitals are understaffed as regards the
\nmedical doctors, and we strongly feel the consequences of such a situation. Why
\ndo our medical doctors leave? What can we do to prevent them from doing that?
\nHow does the typical doctor-patient relationship look like, in our country or
\nelsewhere? <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sociologist Vladimir Ionas:<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For its greater part, the migration of medical doctors, we can say it
\noccurred before the pay rise that was officially approved only a couple of
\nyears ago. Unfortunately, it is the main problem the Romanian healthcare system
\nis facing. As we speak, the migration of the medical doctors is an ongoing
\nprocess. And at that, it is not about
\nthe paygrade, it is also about the facilities n the hospital, about the
\nshortage at all levels, which is rampant in hospitals around Romania. We can
\nalso mention the respect medical doctors across Romania enjoy, the way the
\ndoctor-patient relationship is being built in the Western countries and how it
\nis created in Romania. Unfortunately, in Romania, the doctor-patient
\nrelationship is basically a needs-based one, whereas the patient-doctor
\nrelationship in the Western countries is based on respect and trust on the part
\nof the patient. The Romanians are not used to having total confidence in the
\nmedical doctor, nay, they see the medical doctor as somebody they see when they
\nmost need it, whenever they need that immediately. And that is clearly
\nreflected in the results of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Romania. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The
\naforementioned OECD report also states that 25% of Romania’s inhabitants
\n(young, for their most part) expressed their wish to relocate abroad and stay
\nthere for good. It is of the biggest
\npercentages reported for the region, Almost half of the people aged 15 to 24
\nexpressed their intention to emigrate. The implications of that for the
\ncountry’s labor force are tremendous. According to Vladimir Ionas, youngsters
\ndo not live for a different paygrade alone, they also leave for a different way
\nof life. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Vladimir Ionas:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Taking the youngsters into account, we can speak about a different way
\nof life. We don’t need to believe that most of those who left, remained abroad
\nmainly because of a much greater income they could earn in a foreign country.
\nOftentimes, in the case of those whose professional background is not that
\nstrong, the paygrade is not necessarily much greater as compared to what they
\ncould earn in Romania. It is about the standard of living, about the services
\nthey benefit from when they interact with the state institutions, with the
\nhealthcare system, it is about the education their children can get. We’re
\nspeaking about several factors that lead up to that wish of the Romanians to leave
\nand settle somewhere abroad. Then again, just like with the medical doctors,
\nthat definitely poses a big problem for the workforce, because a relevant
\nproportion of those who leave are higher education graduates, but that
\nshouldn’t come up as a surprise and then again, the lifestyle they have when
\nthey go abroad prompts them to wish to stay there for good, which is very good
\nfor them, but they also want that because they wish to offer their children a
\nmuch certain future.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In
\nrecent years, the birth rate has seen a sensible decrease. However, according
\nto Vladimir Ionas, in 2021 things have changed for the better, quite
\nsurprisingly. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Vladimir Ionas:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The birth rate issue is a compelling one, for Romania. It has seen a downward
\ntrend for many years now. 2021 is the year when the birth rate has seen a
\nslight increase, somehow favored by the ongoing pandemic. It is hard to say
\nwhether such a trend can be contained. The state needs to take very tough
\nmeasures to that effect. Why don’t we look at such countries as Hungary or
\nFrance, for instance, so that we can copy their measures leading up to the
\nincrease of the birth rate. Hungary is the country with one of the toughest
\npolicies favoring the birth rate increase, since they also have a big problem
\nwith the demographic increase. That is what the political class should do -
\nunderstand what the priorities of the country are, realize the fact that the
\ndemographic situation is extremely worrying and they should promote public
\npolicies aimed at encouraging child birth. The are rather easy to implement.
\nRomania is not poor; it is a rich country that has resources so that such
\nprograms can be created. Political will is most needed, first of all.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The
\npublic policies, they need to be targeted and efficiently implemented. However,
\nin a country where they percentage of those who have their pensions is much
\ngreater than the percentage of those whose work, the future looks rather grim. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Vladimir Ionas:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, to that end, it’s hard to believe we can change the trend
\nfor the better. Around 20% of those who are over 18, medium-term, would like to
\nleave Romania and about 50% of the students who are freshmen, as we speak, or
\n2nd-year students at the university would like to leave for another
\ncountry when they graduate, so they can have better chances of personal
\ndevelopment and better-paid jobs. Again, I do not know if those working with
\nthe state institutions ever thought of a solution to that problem, but we need
\nto be aware and realize that such a trend will cause the collapse of many
\nsystems, the pension system, first of all. The state will no longer be able to
\npay people’s pensions, I think, if the reported percentage of those who have
\nemployment stands at 30%, whereas 70% of the people receive their pensions or
\nunemployment benefits. Concurrently, the healthcare system will be
\nunderfinanced and will collapse, so we have a very big problem. That should be
\nthe main debate topic at the level of the Romanian society, so that the
\nsolutions can be identified to stem the exodus and to avoid the situation
\nwhere we have twice as many retired people as compared to those who work. It
\nshould be the main debate topic for all state institutions.<\/p>\n
(Translation by Eugen Nasta)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Highly-skilled Romanian employees leave the country in droves<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":143844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42997],"tags":[38534,29207,30279,30268],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-143843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-society-today","tag-birth-rate","tag-migration","tag-pay-rise","tag-unemployment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n