Albanian medical students have been calling for the scrapping of a law that restricts the number of doctors in the country, which has one of the lowest ratios in Europe. The law, which came into effect on October 1, is deemed unconstitutional and violates basic human rights principles on freedom of movement. The students argue that it deprives them of the opportunity to develop their training abroad and violates their right to freely choose where they want to work.
Germany is introducing a new, streamlined immigration system for workers from countries outside the European Union like Albania, and the so-called „Chancenkarte” for people with potential employment contracts could make the decision to work abroad even more tempting.
The Albanian government has stated that over 3,000 doctors have left the country in the past decade, with at least 1,000 working in Germany. The national nurses’ association also reports that at least 16,000 nurses and care workers have left Albania in the last four years.
Specialised agencies advertise better opportunities abroad, deepening the dilemma for students. They claim that better working conditions are key for them to stay in Albania, as the average salary for a young graduate in the public sector is 1,000 euros a month.
