Number of doctors in Romanian hospitals has fallen from 21,400 to 14,400 since 2011, says president of professional body

The Romanian health service is facing a crisis as thousands of highly skilled doctors leave to work in the UK and other European countries, according to the president of the Romanian College of Physicians.

In Britain, the debate for the past 18 months has focused on the predicted influx of "beggars and benefits cheats" that has so far failed to materialise following the lifting of working restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians on 1 January.

But Professor Vasile Astarastoae says it is Romania that is facing the real crisis, because the number of doctors going to work abroad has rocketed since 2007.

"There is a major crisis in Romania when it comes to having enough doctors. In 2011 there were 21,400 doctors working in Romanian hospitals. On 1 November 2013 there were only 14,400," he said.

Earlier this month new figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) showed that 26% of NHS doctors were foreign nationals. And according to the latest General Medical Council figures, 2,140 doctors who qualified in Romania currently hold positions in the UK – a higher number than those coming from Australia, Poland or Spain.

Astarastoae said immigration was hitting specialists in key areas particularly hard as these doctors can earn several times the Romanian wage working overseas.

"In Romania, with a population of 19 million, there are only 48 doctors specialising in radiotherapy, despite having high rates of cancer in the country. We have an ageing population, yet there are only 54 doctors specialising in geriatrics. Across the country, in intensive care units there should be 1,800 doctors employed but there are only 624. There are only 70 cardiovascular specialists in all of the country."

Mariana Campeanu, Romania's labour minister, said: "The phenomenon of a brain drain in Romania is a reality. Doctors and nurses from the eastern European countries, including Romania, are choosing to work in other member states of the EU, where they may have higher financial benefits and better working conditions."

She said the Romanian government was acutely aware of the issue and was trying to tackle the problem to "maintain the stability of the health system in Romania and thus the health of the population.

"A first step in this direction was the introduction this year of salary supplements for medical residents, representing a salary increase of about 20-25%," she said.

Astarastoae said Romania was losing out twice by paying to train thousands of doctors only for other countries, including the UK, to reap the benefits.

"Romania spends €3.5bn (£2.9bn) educating doctors; we are basically spending it on solving problems in the UK, Germany and France. You can earn €4,000 [a month] as a doctor overseas rather than €400 in Romania. For some specialities, like anaesthesiologists or cardiovascular surgeons, they can earn 30 times more."

Last October medical workers in Romania picketed the ministry of labour and the ministry of health demanding changes. The government subsequently agreed to increase the starting wage for resident doctors from €200 to €350 a month through a scholarship scheme, as well as agreeing to increase the health budget from 3.7% to 4.3% of GDP.

But for doctors like Dorin Gherasim, a 28-year-old neurosurgical resident from Targu Mures in the north of country, this is unlikely to stop the exodus.

"This really feels like a crisis," said Gherasim, who earns €400 a month. "Any medical resident my age is thinking about emigrating. Germany, France, the UK. You can work there and have a decent salary – who wouldn't want that?"

Earlier this month the Guardian revealed some Romanian and Bulgarian doctors and nurses working in the NHS were experiencing growing hostility from patients following an "anti-Romanian" campaign by some politicians and newspapers in the runup to the change in working restrictions on 1 January.

But Gherasim said headlines in the British press were unlikely to put off many Romanian doctors.

"I don't think it's had much of an impact," he said. "When taking such a big and long-term decision a bit of negative press now won't change people's minds."