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Directive No. 93/16/EEC stipulating that medical education in Europe consists of six
years and 5.500 hours of structured schooling. It is also difficult to assess the impact of
the Bologna model on medical education in Europe as its implementation is still ongoing.
Table I.3.7.1: Medical education in Europe
Country Numerical limits
apply to medical
education
Remarks
Austria No Since 2003 Austria has one private medical school
Belgium Yes since 1997 Government fixes the number of new accreditation to practice
Denmark Since 1977 Government fixes the number of student places
France Yes since 1971 A decree from the Prime Minister fixes the numerous clauses
for the admission in the second year of undergraduate
medical school
Germany Yes Study places are allocated by the Central Office for the
Allocation of places in Higher Education according to a
procedure established by the Federal Lander
Greece Yes The Ministry of Education determines the number of places
in each medical school on the basis of available financial
resources rather than to match demand and supply
Ireland No There are certain number of state funded places, but colleges
have discretion to take in more students
Italy Yes The number of places for the degree in Medicine and Surgery
is determined yearly by a decree of the Minister for
Universities and Research
Netherlands Yes Universities have a “numerus fixus” for medical students
which means that only a limited number of students are
admitted. The great part of available places is assigned by lot.
Norway Yes
Spain Yes The Ministries of Health and Education and the National
Conference of University Chairmen set the cap
Sweden Yes Medical school intake is controlled by the central government
Switzerland Yes since 1998 Some cantons have introduced a numerus clausus
United Kingdom Yes Medical school intake is controlled by the government
through the funding of university places
Source: OECD (2008) pp. 94-95. Own construction
I.3.8 The new economics of brain drain
The brain drain argument has induced several receiving countries to re think about the
recruitment of skilled personal. Some European countries, for example, the UK is
restricting the recruitment of health professionals from most developing countries. The
NHS has applied new restrictions on recruitment of health professionals. But restricting
the entry to the labour markets might also increase the proportion of informal immigrants
into the economy. This is linked to the phenomenon of brain waste where skilled
immigrants cannot use their human capital properly, often working on posts for unskilled
staff. This is in contrast to the predictions of the new economics of brain drain. This
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