A new understanding of health worker migration (2018)

Summary

The video explores the growing global demand for healthcare workers, particularly in wealthier countries, and the migration of health professionals to seek better opportunities. Highlighting the WHO's 2010 Global Code of Practice on health worker recruitment, the script reveals complex migration patterns, with many African-trained professionals staying within the region. Personal stories from doctors in Uganda, like Dr. Shalini Sampson and Dr. James Enoguh, illustrate the benefits and challenges of migration. The video emphasizes the importance of policy frameworks and international cooperation to manage this movement and ensure mutual benefits for sending and receiving countries.

Takeaways

• 😀 The global demand for health workers is growing, with the World Bank predicting 40 million new jobs in the sector over the next 15 years, mostly in wealthier countries.
• 😀 Health worker migration offers opportunities for better job conditions, salaries, and working environments, with many seeking to work in other countries.
• 😀 The WHO Global Code of Practice on the international recruitment of health personnel was adopted in 2010 to address migration challenges and manage health worker mobility.
• 😀 Implementation of the WHO Code, supported by the EU and Norway, has revealed surprising trends in health worker migration, including significant South-to-South and North-to-South movement.
• 😀 Uganda, as part of the WHO Code implementation, has seen 33% of new doctors and nurses coming from abroad, highlighting diverse migration trends in the health sector.
• 😀 Dr. Shalini Sampson's experience as a radiologist from India demonstrates the growing trend of Indian-trained doctors choosing to work in countries like Uganda for better career prospects.
• 😀 The trend of health worker migration is particularly prominent in Africa, where many trained health workers move within the continent rather than to Europe or America.
• 😀 Temporary migration is becoming more common, with health workers traveling to neighboring countries for limited periods, often due to increasing regulatory harmonization within regions like East Africa.
• 😀 Health worker migration can have significant benefits if supported and managed effectively, offering improved career opportunities for workers and addressing healthcare shortages in various regions.
• 😀 The WHO Global Code is seen as a key tool in managing health worker migration, especially as developed countries face aging populations and seek more healthcare workers from countries like Uganda.
• 😀 Evidence-based policies, as promoted by the WHO and its partners, are crucial for managing health worker mobility and maximizing benefits for both countries and the health workers themselves.

Q & A

What is the predicted demand for health workers globally over the next 15 years?

The World Bank predicts that 40 million new health worker jobs will be created globally over the next 15 years, primarily in wealthier countries.

What opportunities does the growing demand for health workers present?

The growing demand offers health workers the opportunity to take their skills to other countries where they may find better job opportunities, improved working conditions, or higher salaries.

What is the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel?

Adopted in 2010, the WHO Global Code of Practice aims to regulate the international recruitment of health workers and ensure that their movement is ethically managed to benefit both countries and workers.

Which regions have seen significant movement of health workers, according to the WHO implementation project?

The project highlighted substantial inter-regional health worker migration, particularly South to South and North to South movements, complementing the more widely known South to North migration.

How does Dr. Shalini Sampson's experience reflect health worker migration?

Dr. Shalini Sampson, a radiologist who moved from India to Uganda, exemplifies the growing trend of health workers migrating for better career prospects, where she was able to practice directly after completing her studies in Uganda, unlike in India.

Why do many health workers from India migrate abroad?

Many Indian-trained health workers migrate due to the high number of doctors and low pay in India, leading to poor working conditions and a lower quality of life. They seek better opportunities abroad for improved pay and work-life balance.

What did the findings in Uganda reveal about the migration of health workers?

The findings in Uganda showed that about 33% of new doctors and nurses were from abroad. Interestingly, many Ugandan-trained health workers did not move to Europe or America, but rather to neighboring countries like Kenya, Zambia, and Botswana.

What is the significance of temporary migration among health workers in East Africa?

Temporary migration is on the rise, with health workers moving across East African borders for short periods, particularly as regulations are being harmonized to allow for more efficient use of the workforce across countries.

How does the WHO Global Code aim to address health worker migration in the future?

The WHO Global Code provides a framework to manage health worker migration ethically, ensuring that developed countries, which face aging populations and healthcare demands, can recruit from countries like Africa, without exploiting their health workforces.

What role will improved evidence play in managing health worker mobility?

Improved evidence will be crucial in capturing the complexities of health worker mobility and helping countries develop policies that maximize the benefits of this movement, ensuring that health workers are better supported and migration is more sustainable.