Andorra's SAAS Faces Shortage of 8 Specialist Doctors Amid Recruitment Challenges

The Servei d'Atenció Sanitària d'Andorra (SAAS) faces a critical shortage of eight specialist doctors across key areas including pneumology, neurology, surgery, and gynaecology, according to SAAS director general Cosan.

She described the hospital's recruitment efforts as "superactive" amid a Europe-wide demand for physicians driven by the retirement of baby boomers. While gynaecology has reached a record nine active specialists—up from levels when Cosan returned to Andorra in 2014—many professionals are nearing retirement. Three gynaecologists are over 59, and in urology, three of four doctors exceed 65.

Cosan emphasised that financial incentives are competitive, with salaries around €70,000 gross annually and Andorra's tax system offering advantages over Spain. An upcoming collective agreement, set for January implementation, will validate level C career plans to attract experienced foreign doctors. However, high living costs, particularly rents of €2,500-3,000 monthly plus initial deposits equivalent to €12,000, deter candidates.

She denied any drop in care standards due to shortages. Recent changes to the Healthcare Professions Law allow medical degrees from outside the EU if specialisation occurred in an EU country, but she insisted quality remains protected by law.

Addressing patient complaints, Cosan urged using official channels for feedback, which helps track issues and demand accountability. Emergency services receive the most, with half related to wait times, though she acknowledged some cases involved deficient care or misdiagnoses. These are reviewed to assess whether appropriate tests were conducted based on symptoms.

On the death of a 15-month-old girl, Cosan declined comment out of respect for family privacy, noting an ongoing investigation.