Doctors abandon Malaga

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 10:03

Written by Editor

Despite a general shortage of medical staff in the province, low wages, temporary contracts and being moved around from hospitals to health centres and back again are forcing many doctors and nurses to seek a better life elsewhere. Andalucia is second from the bottom of the list of worst paid medical staff in Spain, above Cantabria. A doctor's average salary is €45,500, some €13,000 less than the average salary in the Basque Country and nearly €20,000 less than the average in Melilla and Ceuta. As a result, there has been a steady drain of doctors and nurses, many of whom opt for nearby Murcia and Extremadura, in order to be not too far away from their families.

However, not only higher salaries but valuable experience in research and specialisation tempt many to head for the UK and Portugal, which top the list for doctors moving abroad.