Staffing crisis in the Romanian medical system: Positions remain frozen
The medical system in Romania is facing major difficulties due to the freezing of hiring in public institutions. This measure, introduced back in 2023, has significantly limited the ability of hospitals to recruit new staff, thereby affecting the quality of services provided to patients.
Currently, the only way a hospital can open a position for competition is through the approval of a government memorandum. This procedure is described by specialists as complex and arduous, which causes the process of unfreezing jobs to take a very long time.
The consequences of this situation are felt directly in healthcare units, where existing staff are overworked. The lack of doctors and nurses in certain departments puts pressure on current teams and can lead to longer waiting lists for patients in need of investigations or treatments.
Representatives in the field emphasize that the current blockade prevents young medical graduates from finding a job in the state system immediately after completing their studies. In the long term, this situation contributes to the migration of medical staff to other countries or to the private sector.
Authorities continue to analyze the situation, but so far no definitive solution has been identified to relax hiring restrictions. It remains to be seen whether measures will be adopted in the coming period to allow for additional staffing where needs are most urgent.