Regional employment policies in the field of healthcare

Abstract

Providing sufficient number of qualified healthcare professionals is a worldwide challenge. The existing demographic trends in Bulgaria, related to population’ decline and aging, as well as aging of the medical staff, suppose urgent intervention both from the government and the regional management. This is the only way to overecome the crisis relatet to the lack of educated and trained healthcare professionals. Their mobility is motivated by different factors, including higher salaries, better opportunities for specialization, better working conditions, etc. The migration process in Bulgaria have intensified since the country entered the European Union and the borders are open, including for the medical workers, as part of the regulated professions. But healthcare mobility has a direct impact on the effectiveness of health systems.
The retention of qualified healthcare staff on a local level is a complex process, which requires detailed analysis and a preparation of sustainable long-term strategy. The purpose of this article is to present the significance of the problem and to propose recommendations and concrete steps for the local government.
The development and the implementation of such a strategy will improve human resources’ management in the healthcare sector and would reduce the mobility of healthcare professionals.