OBJECTIVES: Recent years have seen an increase in focus, at an international level, on changes regarding the number and the income of health care professionals. Better circumstances, higher salary prospects are major sources of motivation for health care professionals to work abroad. Efforts at keeping them home have became one of the most emphasised targets of the government. The aim of our study was to analyze the aging of health care professionals in Hungary.

METHODS: Data were derived from the database of the Health Registration and Training Center (OSAP Nr. 1626 data collection programme). We created three age groups within headcount between 2003-2015 in point of the following health care professionals working in health care sector: general practitioners, specialist physicians, dentists, specialist dentists, pharmacists, specialist pharmacists, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, midwives, health visitors, ambulance men.

RESULTS: While the proportion of nurses (-33%), and midwives (-26%) decreased most in the age group 39 and below, the highest increase was observed in the age group of 40 to 59 years (+31%, +22%) . Dentists showed the biggest decrease (-30%) in the age group of 40 to 59. The proportion of specialist physicians increased the most from 5% to 24% (2003-2015) in age group 60 and above.

CONCLUSIONS: Between 2003-2015 there was a remarkable increase and decrease in the age groups of health care professionals in Hungary. The changes showed significant differences among different professions. In order to prevent the rapid aging of health care professionals, further improvement of salaries is required.