Back to top
DownloadCOUNTRY: Hungary
KNOWLEDGE BROKER:
Dr Hanna Páva – Director of the Directorate for Human Resources for Health Development, National Healthcare Service Center.
Zsolt Bélteki – Head of Department of Migration and Monitoring, Directorate for Human Resources for Health Development, National Healthcare Service Center
SEPEN thanks the knowledge brokers for their contribution in checking and completing the country-information. SEPEN is accountable for the content of the country profiles.
| Terminology | Definition |
| Health visitor | Health visitor is a special Hungarian profession on maternity and child care. |
| Type of information | Source | Year | Remarks |
| Table 1: Health workforce stock and replacement | OECD | 2018 | Age characteristics of the nursing stock are not reported. |
| Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers | OECD | 2018 | Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported. |
| Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants | Eurostat | 2018 | Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants | Eurostat | 2015 | Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Statistic | Number | Data Year |
| Total population | 9 772 756 | 2019 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76,2 | 2018 |
Source: Eurostat
| Licensed to practice | Practising | Professionally active | |||||
| Statistic | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Data year |
| Physicians | 56 540 | 5,78 | 33 078 | 3,38 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| > Generalist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 7 096 | 0,73 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| > Specialist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 25 903 | 2,65 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| Nurses | 117 662 | 12,04 | 64 695 | 6,62 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| Midwives | 6 025 | 0,62 | 2 439 | 0,25 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| Dentists | 10 148 | 1,04 | 6 870 | 0,70 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| Pharmacists | 13 044 | 1,33 | 7 842 | 0,80 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
| Physiotherapists | Not reported | Not reported | 5 311 | 0,54 | Not reported | Not reported | 2018 |
Source: OECD
Not reported
| Name | Role | Website |
| Directorate General of Human Resources Development at the Hungarian National Healthcare Service Center |
Central authority for health professionals’ registration and licensing, recognition of the 5 sectoral professions (physician,dentist, nurse, midwife and pharmacist) qualifications. It is responsible for issuing certificates for the recognition of the healthcare qualifications, maintaining the register of health professionals and the Human Resources Monitoring system, accreditation of health training institutions, approving the curricula and other duties related to the training of health professionals. |
www.enkk.hu |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Ministry of Human Resources – State Secretariat for Health | Central authority responsible for decision-making, legislation of all health and health-related issues in coordination and cooperation with other relevant ministries and authorities. Responsible for professional and vocational postgraduate training and continuing education of physicians and nurses. | http://www.kormany.hu/hu/emberi-eroforrasok-miniszteriuma/egeszsegugyert-felelos-allamtitkarsag |
| Ministry of Human Resources – State Secretariat for Education | Central Authority responsible for all education policies and activities. Draws up development plans, creates legislation and sets the required quality standard. | http://www.kormany.hu/hu/emberi-eroforrasok-miniszteriuma/oktatasert-felelos-allamtitkarsag |
| National Public Health and Medical Officer Service | National authority of healthcare institutions professional authorisation, supervision and public health issues. | www.antsz.hu |
| National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary (NEAK) | The NEAK contracts the healthcare organisations/providers, collects data on insured persons and other topics of statistical relevance, conducts tasks related to health financing, takes part in the planning of medium and long-term development strategies and maintains the register of health insurance covered therapies and the DRG (Diagnostic Related Groups) system. | www.neak.gov.hu |
| Hungarian Central Statistical Office | Professionally independent public administration agency that provides data for the parliament and public administration, social organisations, local authorities, scientific bodies, economic organisations, the general public and the media, as well as for international organisations and users abroad. | www.ksh.hu |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Hungarian Medical Chamber (HMC) | Non-governmental professional organisation covering all physicians that provides professional and moral protection for its members. It represents members’ interests; sets ethical standards; establishes policy guidelines and advises on professional issues. The membership for physicians is mandatory in order to get licensed to practise. HMC has a Dental Section responsible for legal and interest representation of dentists, dental practitioners and dental specialists. | www.mok.hu |
| Chamber of the Hungarian Health Care Professionals | Non-governmental professional organisation for all healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, physiotherapists etc.). Represents members’ interests; sets ethical standards; establishes policy guidelines and advises on professional issues. The membership for paramedic professionals is mandatory in order to practise. | www.meszk.hu |
| Hungarian Chamber of Pharmacists | Non-governmental professional organisation for all pharmacists. Represents members’ interests; sets ethical standards; establishes policy guidelines; and advises on professional issues. The membership is mandatory. | www.mgyk.hu |
| National Hospital Association | Non-governmental association of hospitals representing its member institutions’ interests and starting dialogues with the government on hospital-related issues. | www.korhazszovetseg.hu |
| Medicina 2000 Policlinic and Outpatient Healthcare Providers’ professional Association | Non-governmental association of outpatient healthcare providers. Representing members’ interests and consulting with the government on out-patient care-related issues. | www.medicina2000.hu |
| Hungarian Health Visitors’ Association | Non-governmental association of health visitors. Represents its member institutions’ interests. | www.mave.hu |
| Hungarian Alliance of Medical Resident Doctors (MRSZ) | NGO, conducting surveys on mobility intention and its influencing factors. | http://rezidens.hu/ |
| Trade Union of Hungarian Resident Doctors | Trade union established in 2016, lobbying among other topics for salary increase and retaining professionals. | http://reszasz.hu/ |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Hungarian Medical Universities and Faculties | Health professional education – undergraduate, postgraduate, continuous professional development, research on medicine, health sciences and public health. | www.unideb.hu |
| Semmelweis University Health Services Management Training Centre | University institution with special focus on health workforce research and planning issues. The centre has acted as WHO Collaborating Centre on Human Resources for Health Development since 2015. | www.semmelweis.hu/emk |
| Original name | Egységes egészségügyi ágazati humánerőforrás-monitoring rendszer (HMR) |
| Name in English | Human resource monitoring system |
| Short description | In 2014, Hungary put a legal framework in place to establish a human resource monitoring system. The development of the monitoring data warehouse was completed in 2015.
The legislative framework on the aims and the data content of HR monitoring system was codified in the Act on Health (Section 114, Act CLIV of 1997 on Health) and detailed rules was regulated by the Ministerial Decree. The Ministerial Decree 2/2014. regulates the data content of the HR monitoring system and the structure of the public annual report about the health workforce |
| Publication date & link to full text | 1. 23 December 1997 (Section 114, Act CLIV of 1997 on Health)
https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=99700154.TV 2. 16 January 2014 (Ministerial Decree 2/2014) https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=A1600172.KOR×hift=fffffff4&txtreferer=00000001.TXT |
| Original name | Kiemelt szakorvosi szakmák köre |
| Name in English | Shortage occupation list of health professionals |
| Short description | A list of medical specialisations where physician shortage exists is determined annually by the Ministry of Human Capacities. |
| Publication date & link to full text | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1500162.kor (30 June 2015)
https://www.enkk.hu/files/2o18/rzd-keretszamok-18-3.pdf (20 October 2017) |
Not reported.
| Original name | Rezidens Támogatási Program
Mihalicza ösztöndíj Ápoló tanulók részére pályaválasztást támogató ösztöndíjas program |
| Name in English | Scholarships for resident physicians
Mihalicza scholarship for nurses Scholarship for nurses trained in vocational schools |
| Short description | |
| Publication date & Link to full text |
Scholarships for resident physicians: https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1500162.kor (30 June 2015) Mihalicza scholarship for nurses: https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=A1700160.KOR×hift=fffffff4&txtreferer=00000001.TXT (28 June 2017) Scholarship for nurses trained at vocational level: https://apololeszek.aeek.hu/files/3%20ciklus/Osztondijas-paly-felhivas_3_ciklus.pdf |
| Original name | Szakos hallgatói kapacitás meghatározása |
| Name in English | Determination of University level training entries |
| Short description |
Hungary carries out quantitative workforce planning activities to determine admission to training a quantity-based, but without using a precise model. The training quotas are determined by the Secretariat of State responsible for Education, which takes into account the current labour market trends (including trends in international mobility), and demographic trends. Residency quotas are determined by the Secretariat of State for Health without division between professions, and the vacant positions are filled based on an agreement between the hospitals and trainees. |
| Publication date & Link to full text | University quotas:
http://njt.hu/cgi_bin/njt_doc.cgi?docid=142941 (30 December 2011) |
| Original name | Rezidens Támogatási Program |
| Name in English | Financial incentives for medical trainees in specialisations with a shortage. |
| Short description | The financing structure of residency programmes provides extra financial support for residents in medical specialisms with a shortage. |
| Publication date & Link to full text | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1500162.kor (30 June 2015) |
| Original name | 1992. évi XXXIII. törvény a közalkalmazottak jogállásáról |
| Name in English | Act XXXIII/1992 on the Legal Status of Public Servants |
| Short description | The professional, the managerial and, to a certain extent, the academic career paths are subject to a general regulatory framework based on Act XXXIII of 1992 on the Legal Status of Public Employees. This framework applies equally to all public employees, including physicians and other health workers, and there is an additional governmental decree implementing the provisions of the Act in healthcare institutions (May 1992, December 2008). |
| Publication date & Link to full text | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=99200033.TV (2 June 1992.) |
| Original name | NEFMI rendelet az egészségügyi szakdolgozók továbbképzésének szabályairól |
| Name in English | Decree by the Ministry of Human Resources on the rules for continuous training of health professionals |
| Short description | Hungary has a regulated continuous professional development (CPD) system linked to licence renewal. The licenses of the physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives and pharmacists need to be renewed every 5 years. Practising requires registration in the Operational Registry with the Directorate General of Human Resources Development at the Hungarian National Healthcare Service Center so as to practice in Hungary independently as a health professional. Health professionals have to demonstrate that the required CPD credit points (by participating in conferences, publishing activity, and continuous professional training) were achieved in order to be renew their licences to practice. Compulsory group-based theoretical and a practical training is required for all health professionals, and also individual theoretical training with optional courses. 250 points or credits are the mandatory CPD requirements for physicians, dentists and pharmacists over a 5 years period, while 150 credits have to be achieved by nurses and midwives. All employers have to provide 3-10 days of paid working days per year for CPD. |
| Publication date & Link to full text | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1100063.nem (29 November 2011)
https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/14/3/229 (2014) |
Not reported.
| Original name | Korm. rendelet egyes egészségügyi dolgozók és egészségügyben dolgozók illetmény- vagy bérnövelésének, valamint az ahhoz kapcsolódó támogatás igénybevételének részletes szabályairól |
| Name in English | Salary increase measures for the health professionals and allied professions working in the public health sector |
| Short description | In Hungary, 95% of the health professionals are employed in the public sector.
After the salary increase measures were introduced between 2012 and 2015, another four-year salary increase programme started in 2016. As of the 1st of September 2016, salaries were increased in all health professional categories. In case of specialist physicians and allied health professionals, the basic wage and the related mobile elements were increased by an average of 27%. In 2017, the average salary increase was 23.5% for physicians and 12% for the allied health professionals, whose salaries were increased by an additional 8% in 2018. |
| Publication date & Link to full text |
https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1300256.kor×hift=20191101 (5 July 2013) |
Not reported.
List of sources specific to this country:
Last updated: 10 October 2020
The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.
Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This website was produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this website. Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission's / Executive Agency's behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.