Skilled Migration: Healthcare Policy Options

The loss of skilled personnel to rich countries is a major concern for many developing countries today. However, large numbers of people from developing countries are also being trained overseas and, of those trained at home, many cannot be absorbed productively into their economies of origin. At the same time, the association between the presence or absence of health personnel and the health status of a population is seen as simplistic and a range of other factors are addressed. This Briefing examines the case for a two-tiered health training system, one for global markets and the other for local markets. It also examines options for ‘outsourcing’ healthcare to regional centres in poorer countries as a way to assist with retention and return. [Description from author]