Medical Exodus Leaves Serbian Health System Bleeding

“I graduated from the Faculty of Stomatology in Belgrade in 2010 but left Serbia six months ago because the conditions for medical personnel are so bad – and am now working in Germany,” former Belgrader Tamara told BIRN, asking that her surname should not be revealed.

She is one among hundreds of health workers who, according to health union officials, leave Serbia every year to seek better jobs abroad.

As a result of this relentless brain drain, the Serbian health system is in danger of slow collapse, unions say.

Tamara told BIRN that while she was still working in Serbia, she had to work in two different private dental practices to support herself, while simultaneously volunteering in a state practice in the hope of landing a permanent job.