OBJECTIVES The migration of health care professionals has emerging importance in health policy. We analysed the remuneration of hospital nurses in European OECD countries.

METHODS Data were derived from OECD Health Database. We analysed data for every public and private hospitals’ nurses in European OECD members, excluding Iceland, Latvia and Turkey. Countries were grouped as: Bismarckian solidarity-based health insurance system or Beveridge-like national health system. For analysing the average gross annual income (AGAI), US$ exchange rate (ER) and US$ PPP indicators were used between the years 2006-2015.

RESULTS In 2006 AGAI (ER) of nurses were 32,632 US$, while in PPP it was 32,716US$ PPP for countries with Bismarck-model, and 45,279 US$, as well as 37,760 US$ PPP in Beveridge-systems. The difference was not significant (p=0.293; p=0.477). In 2015 AGAI (ER) of nurses were 35,386 US$, while in PPP it was 43,679US$ PPP for countries with Bismarck-model, and 41,500 US$, as well as 45,703 US$ PPP in Beveridge-model countries. The difference was not significant (p=0.595; p=0.832).Between 2006-2015 AGAI of nurses increased from 32,632 US$ to 35,386 US$ (+8%) in Bismarck-model countries, while in Beveridge-based countries it decreased from 45,279 US$ to 41,500 US$ (-8%). Within the same time, AGAI of nurses from all OECD members increased from 36,306 US$ to 41,767 US$ (+15%). Between 2006-2015 AGAI of nurses increased from 32,716 US$ PPP to 43,679 US$ PPP (+34%) in Bismarck-model countries, in Beveridge-based countries it increased from 37,760 US$ PPP to 45,703 US$ PPP (+21%). Within the same time, AGAI of nurses from all OECD members increased from 35,461 US$ PPP to 47,790 US$ PPP (+35%). The remuneration increased mostly in Slovak Republic, both in ER (+100%) and in PPP (+107%).

CONCLUSIONS The remuneration of hospital nurses increased higher in countries with Bismarck-model between 2006-2015. Differences were not significant neither in 2006, nor in 2015.