Romania has bled out tens of thousands of doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists since joining the European Union a decade ago, lured abroad by what the country lacks: significantly higher pay, modern infrastructure and functional healthcare systems. The consequences are dire. Romania is one of the EU states with the fewest doctors. Nearly a third of hospital positions are vacant and the health ministry estimates one in four Romanians has insufficient access to essential healthcare. "Medical staff leaving Romania at an almost massive pace deepens the problems of the healthcare system," former health minister Vlad Voiculescu has said. "Entire hospitals are facing a major personnel deficit and entire towns don't have a family physician." REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu SEARCH "CAMPEANU HEALTH" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text ROMANIA-HEALTH/ TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY