The travailleur roumain en France are known for their long-standing cultural ties with Romania. Romanians have helped shape the French language and culture, and their works can be seen throughout France and are cherished by the French.

Having been attracted by the opportunity to prepare an interuniversity specialisation degree and gain a permanent working visa, many physicians choose to settle in France. The majority of them are able to make regular remittances to support family members in Romania and are also involved in various forms of intergenerational solidarity.

Employment Opportunities: Where Romanian Workers Thrive in France

Physicians coming to work in France from Romania are present across the whole country, but they are particularly numerous in specialties experiencing recruitment difficulties (anaesthetics intensive care, radiology and medical imaging) and in psychiatric hospitals inherited from lunatic asylums. Compared to French doctors, they are highly qualified and ready to accept challenging working conditions, at least in their early stage.

A corpus of local newspapers articles was compiled to analyse the information on Romanian doctors setting up their practice in France, especially in rural areas. The results highlight the fact that these doctors are a key component of French healthcare systems, mainly thanks to their professional skills and their ability to adapt to local contexts.

These physicians play a significant role in ensuring continuity of care for patients, especially those who have chronic or recurring diseases. They are a key element of the response to the crisis in healthcare provision in rural areas and in the face of a shortage of qualified personnel in certain fields of expertise.