OECD Health Working Papers
This series is designed to make available to a wider readership health studies prepared for use within the OECD. Authorship is usually collective, but principal writers are named. The papers are generally available only in their original language - English or French - with a summary in the other.
- ISSN: 18152015 (online)
- https://doi.org/10.1787/18152015
Mismatches in the Formal Sector, Expansion of the Informal Sector
Immigration of Health Professionals to Italy
Italy has an aging population which is placing a strain on the public health system and on families. At
the same time, it has a distorted market of supply of health professionals. Past over enrolment in medical
faculties has produced a current glut of doctors, although shortages will appear as this cohort retires. It is
difficult for foreign-trained doctors, and Italian-trained foreigners, to practice medicine in Italy. In nursing,
the situation is more critical, with far fewer graduates of nursing schools than necessary even to meet
replacement needs. Care for the aged, which was traditionally borne by families, has increasingly been
delegated to informal immigrant workers. In the absence of major changes in the care industry, recruitment
efforts for nurses and other health technicians has expanded to include other source countries. Obstacles to
international recruitment of nurses have been reduced, both by simplifying recognition of foreign
qualifications and by exempting nurses from limits on labour migration to Italy. However, a ban on
permanent employment in the public sector has relegated foreign nurses largely to private sector and
shorter-term contract work. National and local health authorities have also become involved in supporting
international recruitment of nurses, often through private agencies. In the home-care sector, families have
been granted more opportunities to hire care workers from abroad legally, and many local authorities are
attempting to integrate this spontaneous private care into their eldercare system through skill upgrades and
support. Nonetheless, international migration will not be sufficient to solve Italy’s health care professional
needs.
JEL:
I19: Health, Education, and Welfare / Health / Health: Other;
J61: Labor and Demographic Economics / Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers / Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
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