Sweden and Hungary physician shortages

Nationalized healthcare is a disaster in the making. Looking at the severe physician shortage in two European countries, Sweden and Hungary, we can get a glimpse of the problems.


Hungary currently has about 35,000 doctors with 2,200 vacancies. This was based on the 2005 data which was the most recent year for which statistics were available. This data does not reflect big cuts made in the health-care system in the past 2 years which has worsened the problem.


Many physicians who are trained in these countries end up leaving. It is mainly because of money and lifestyle and it is just not practical. A new medical graduate earns less than 380 euros a month. A security guard or shop assistant can usually expect to take home 300 euros and a 22-year-old with a bachelor's degree working as an assistant auditor for a multinational corporation makes more than 600 euros. The economics and motivation to complete 8-12 years past high school and then earn roughly the same as a shop assistant while being responsible for life and death decisions simply isn’t appealing.


The issue of status and income for physicians is an important one that cannot be demeaned and overlooked by governments. With salaries fixed by the government, and a lack of potential for doctors to run their own practices, the incentive to work hard and build a good practice with a good income is simply not there. Salaried positions may have an appeal for some individuals but it is certainly a minority. Too much time and energy go into getting the degree to be restrained by government when other industries are not.


Once the physician shortage occurs, rationing of care is right behind. For governments to control costs; services will be limited.