Mismatches in the formal sector, expansion of the informal sector: immigration of health professionals to Italy
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, case study
This health working paper authored by Jonathan Chaloff analyses forces shaping immigration of foreign health workers to Italy.
An ageing population, an oversupply of doctors and a dearth of nurses have created the need to import health workers from abroad- in particular nurses - to care for the elderly. Barriers however persist to their integration in the formal health system, and as a result immigrant health workers practice largely in the private and informal sector. International migration, however, will not suffice to redress Italy's health workforce imbalances.