That’s over 500 more than left in 2022

Around 1,600 nurses left Portugal last year. That’s 527 more than left in 2022, with Switzerland being the main country of destination, according to data from the Order of Nurses, which warns of the consequences of the flight of these professionals.

Says the Order, it received 1,689 requests for a declaration of emigration in 2023, a figure that represents around 60% of the 2,916 nurses that came into the profession that year.

Switzerland continues to be the country that receives the most Portuguese nurses, followed by Spain, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

Outside Europe, the Order says that countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are becoming more attractive to Portuguese professionals, and are employing more and more Portuguese nurses.

“Data shows that the trend of nurses emigrating continues, despite the chronic shortage of these professionals in Portugal,” says the Order, arguing that this increase in emigration shows that Portugal “continues to be unable to retain” nurses who leave in search of better working conditions and brighter career prospects.

The Order concludes its statement today calling for parties’ electoral programmes to include measures that value nurses and succeed in keeping them at work in this country.