Labour mobility of medical specialists: attitudes and factors

Introduction. The healthcare sector characterized by low levels of labour mobility of medical specialists.

In this regard, the purpose of the study is to identify the causes of the current scale of intra-firm and inter-firm mobility in the healthcare sector, which are associated with readiness for professional and qualification growth, as well as with external and internal employment conditions.

Materials and methods. The study was based on regulatory documents of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Government of Moscow. Data from Rosstat and statistics of the Moscow Healthcare Department, as well as materials from expert and questionnaire surveys of Moscow medical specialists, have compiled a statistical database.

Results. The relatively small scale of inter-firm mobility of medical specialists in Moscow is largely due to the similarity of employment conditions in the public sector, which includes most healthcare institutions. This hinders the transfer of personnel to other institutions, although their specifics, such as a significant workload on staff and low wages, are unlikely to suit specialists. At the same time, a significant part of doctors and nursing staff have active attitudes towards professional and qualification growth. Such attitudes can be realized by the institute of certification for the qualification category. However, its imperfection does not allow coping with these functions.

Research limitations. Due to the scarcity of official statistics, the study was mostly based on expert and questionnaire surveys of medical specialists, which, by definition, provide mainly subjective information and limited factual data.

Conclusion. For the institute for certification of medical specialists for the qualification category to fulfill the functions assigned to it, its work should be supplemented with professional training programs by category, the additional payment for them should be increased, and categorical and job status should be linked. To curb the undesirable consequences of the outflow of personnel from the healthcare sector, it is also necessary to take measures to reduce the workload on staff and increase wages.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for the Expertise of Research in the Field of Public Health, Organization and Sociology of Healthcare at the State Budgetary Institution “Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management of Moscow Healthcare Department” (protocol No. 03-01/EK/2023, March 14, 2023).

Contribution of the authors:
Toksanbaeva M.S. — concept and design of the study, editing, compilation of the list of references;
Kolennikova O.A. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing.
All authors — are responsible for writing the text, approving the final version of the article, and being responsible for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest in connection with the publication of this article.

Received: May 29, 2024 / Accepted: October 3, 2024 / Published: November 6, 2024