Out-Migration/Brain Drain

This review seeks to understand the role of remittances in international nurse migration within the context of three theories of international migration: equilibrium approaches, social networks, and globalization. [from abstract]

This paper focuses on the shortage in health workforce, its causes and its consequences.[from introduction]

International migration of health workers is a controversial issue globally. It has both negative and positive impact on both source and destination countries. The shortfall of health workers in the developed countries has led to the accusation of poaching health workers from the developing countries where health care systems are struggling. The causes and consequences of health workers’ migration vary in different countries. This study explored the reasons why a group of Nepalese health workers migrated to the United Kingdom (UK).[from abstract]

This synthesis report is part of the Regional Network for Equity in Health (EQUINET) programme of work on Contributions of global health diplomacy to health systems in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence and information to support capabilities for health diplomacy in east and southern Africa. The programme aims to identify factors that support the effectiveness of global health diplomacy (GHD) in addressing selected key challenges to health strengthening systems in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). [from introduction]

The objective of the study was To assess medical and nursing students’ intentions to migrate abroad or practice in rural areas. Researchers surveyed 3199 first- and final-year medical and nursing students at 16 premier government institutions in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. The survey contained questions to identify factors that could predict students’ intentions to migrate. [from abstract]

Migration has a significant impact on both the individual and national level. This article summarizes the factors that contribute to nurse migration form the perspective of the source and recipient countries. Additionally, the impacts and issues surrounding nurse migration were also analyzed. [from abstract]

This synthesis report is part of the Regional Network for Equity in Health (EQUINET) programme of work on
Contributions of global health diplomacy to health systems in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence and information to support capabilities for health diplomacy in east and southern Africa. The programme aims to identify factors that support the effectiveness of global health diplomacy (GHD) in addressing selected key challenges to health strengthening systems in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). [from summary]

The active recruitment of health workers from developing countries to developed countries has become a major threat to global health. In an effort to manage this migration, the 63rd World Health Assembly adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel in May 2010. While the Code has been lauded as the first globally-applicable regulatory framework for health worker recruitment, its impact has yet to be evaluated.

The intention of this study was not to particularly engage issues of health worker brain drain and migration, but to reveal some of those elements which can motivate and retain health-related professionals in South Africa. [from abstract]

This paper aims to explore the reasons for migration of health workers from sub-Saharan Africa to Belgium and Austria; European countries without a history of active recruitment in sub-Saharan Africa. [from abstract]

This publication provides insights into steps taken to implement the Code globally and it features detailed experiences from 13 countries. It also gives other countries valuable guidance and recommendations on how they, too, can implement the Code of Practice. [adapted from introduction]

The objective of this study was to improve knowledge on the HRH status in Tanzania by analyzing what happens to the number of medical doctors (MD) and doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree graduates during the transition period from graduation, internship to appointment. [from abstract]

In this dissertation an analysis of WHO Global Code (Code) of Practice’s literal and normative content is aligned with interview evidence obtained from internationally educated nurses (IENs) and health policy experts, to test its potential as a scaffold for nurse workforce policy that operationalizes its human rights framework. [adapted from abstract]

This study evaluates a program comprised of the educational tools and infrastructure to support internationally educated physiotherapists in their preparation for entry to practice in Canada and to improve their pass rate on the national competency examination. [adapted from abstract]

The objective of this study was to determine current emigration trends of sub-Saharan African physicians found in the physician workforce of the United States. [from abstract]

This article discusses the challenge of health workforce brain drain, the root causes of migration, the need for evidence-based solutions, policy options and the role of high-income countries. [adapted from author]

This paper presents the results of a study of current mobility trends of health professionals along the borders between Portugal and Spain. The objective was to describe the profile of mobile physicians and nurses; to elicit the opinions of employers on mobility factors; to describe incentive policies to retain or attract health professionals; and to collect and analyse employers’ opinions on the impact of this mobility on their health services. [from abstract]

This paper reports the findings of a six country migration study to help fill information and knowledge gaps by visiting selected Pacific Island Countries and collecting available data on migrating and returning health workers. Information was also compiled on policy and procedures governing exit from public service, and the emigration and immigration of health personnel. [adapted from summary]

This study investigates the causes of migration focusing on the role of salaries and benefits. Health professionals from public, private and non-governmental health facilities located in selected peri-urban and urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were surveyed about their current positions and attitudes toward migration. [from abstract]

This article provides a brief overview of the global health-worker shortage, which could undermine the Millennium Development Goal to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. [from abstract]

Several studies have suggested policy options to reduce brain drain from Africa. The purpose of this paper is to review possible policies which can stem the impact of health professional brain drain from Africa. [from abstract]

In an attempt to determine if countries with relatively large private health care sectors have relatively low rates of physician emigration, this study collected and analysed the relevant data from three countries (Ghana, India and Peru) with emerging economies. [adapted from author]

This study aims to make the labour market visible for histopathologists and identify the reasons for sector switching of clinical doctors. [adpated from abstract]

To assist in filling the information gap on the reasons for migration and mobility of health workers in six Pacific island countries, the authors designed this survey template to collect information on why health professionals leave service, what they intend doing and where they intend going after leaving. [adapted from author]

This study was a program of research designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of Canadian nurse migration and mobility. The program was comprised of three interrelated studies aimed to determine the reasons why Canadian nurses migrate to the US for work, the drivers of nurse mobility across the provinces/territories in Canada, and the challenges that they have experienced with seeking employment in Canada that could be addressed through changes to policy. [adapted from summary]

This paper aims to describe the migration of medical specialists from Sri Lanka and to discuss the successes and failures of strategies to retain them. [from abstract]

Using a comparative case study, this report looks at health care services and human resources in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States to identify constraints on health care capacity to explore how the effective management of migration across these countries might help meet the demand for health care services. Nursing personnel are the focus of the report. [from summary]

This article descibes the importance of health workers in tackling problems in health care systems, the impact of the brain drain of health workers, and uses an example of out migration in Jamaica to demonstrate the issues.

This report examines international and internal migration of skilled health workers (SHW) from six Pacific Island countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) to review recent data and research concerned with migration of SHWs and to present estimates of the numbers of SHWs from the selected countries who were working within the health sector of an overseas country around the year 2000. [adapted from summary]

The study aims to investigate the relationship between turnover intentions and job satisfaction among Czech and Slovak nurses and to determine how the related variables differ between the two groups. [from abstract]