In 2023, the Order of Nurses (OE) received a total of 1,689 requests for declarations for emigration purposes, a number that it says represents around 60% of the 2,916 nurses registered this year.

"The flight of nurses abroad continues, with numbers increasing compared to last year", highlights the Order.

As last year, Switzerland continues to be the country that receives the most Portuguese nurses, followed by Spain, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

Outside Europe, the Order highlights that countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates are becoming more attractive to Portuguese professionals, employing more and more Portuguese nurses.

"The data demonstrate the continuation of the trend of emigration of nurses, despite the chronic shortage of these professionals in Portugal", he highlights, arguing that this increase in emigration demonstrates that Portugal "continues to be unable to retain" nurses who emigrate in search of better careers and conditions of work.

The OE concludes the document by calling for parties' electoral programs to include measures that value nurses and "stop" emigration.