Andorra may need up to three young doctors to replace each retiring physician

The Andorran Medical College has warned that the country’s healthcare system will face growing difficulties in the coming years as almost ten experienced doctors approach retirement. 

According to RTVA, the organisation believes that the generational replacement will not be carried out on a one-to-one basis and that Andorra may need between two and three young doctors to replace each physician who retires.

The president of the Medical College, Albert Dorca, explained that population growth has increased demand for healthcare services, while a significant number of experienced doctors are nearing the end of their professional careers. This situation could make it more difficult to guarantee medical care, particularly in the field of family medicine.

“We will probably need between two and three young doctors to replace every professional who retires”, Dorca said, according to RTVA.

The Medical College believes that younger generations are not willing to work the same long hours as older doctors. Young physicians are seeking more balanced working conditions that allow them to reconcile their professional and personal lives.

As a result, the generational transition will not involve simply replacing one doctor with another. A single young physician may not be able to take on the same workload as an experienced doctor who has built up a large patient list over many years.

The situation could have a direct impact on patients. The Medical College points out that Andorra has a distinctive feature: patients are free to choose their family doctor. When retirements take place, the health system will have to reorganise care and redistribute patients among the available professionals.

Family reunification difficulties make it harder to attract doctors

In addition to the upcoming retirements, the Medical College has highlighted the difficulties involved in attracting and retaining doctors from abroad. The organisation has welcomed the initiative by the parliamentary majority and the Social Democratic Party to make family reunification easier in essential sectors such as healthcare.

According to the Medical College, the current rules make it difficult for some doctors to bring their families to Andorra. Albert Dorca told about the case of a doctor who, despite earning what could be considered a reasonable salary, could not afford to bring her two children to the country.

“If I cannot have my children here with me while working in Andorra in a qualified profession and earning a decent salary, I will not remain in the country”, the doctor reportedly said, according to RTVA.

The Medical College argues that this situation is making it harder to recruit new physicians and could lead some professionals to leave Andorra despite having qualified jobs.

Salaries are another obstacle identified by the sector. The organisation believes that Andorra is not sufficiently competitive in the European context and that financial conditions may discourage specialists from moving to the country, particularly when they can find better employment opportunities elsewhere.

Hotel agreement to facilitate the arrival of medical professionals

To help attract doctors from abroad, the Medical College has reached an agreement with a hotel group to provide accommodation for professionals travelling to Andorra to cover medical shifts.

The organisation is also working to support registered doctors and enable them to maintain a professional career linked to continuing education. The aim is to strengthen the healthcare system’s ability to attract new physicians and guarantee continuity of care.

The institution believes that the future of Andorra’s healthcare system will depend on the country’s ability to replace retiring doctors, attract new professionals and offer sufficiently attractive working and family conditions for them to settle in Andorra.