Health workforce migration in the WHO European Region: country case studies from Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Romania and Tajikistan

Health workforce migration is rapidly reshaping health systems across the WHO European Region. While it can strengthen health systems in receiving countries, it often depletes already strained health workforces in countries of origin. This report draws on regional data and nine country case studies to illustrate migration dynamics and patterns, highlighting both heavy reliance on foreign-trained professionals in countries and the outflows from lower-resource systems. To address these challenges, the report calls for investment in domestic training and retention, stronger data systems and ethical recruitment practices. Grounded in the WHO global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel, it stresses that only through coordinated, forward.