Assessment of the impact of migration of health professionals on the labour market and health sector performance in destination countries

Abstract

The Assessment of the impact of migration of health professionals on the labour market and health sector performance in destination countries is an attempt to understand the impact of the migration of health professionals on the labour market and performance and quality of health services in major countries of destination, particularly the United Kingdom. It focuses on two categories of health professionals: doctors and nurses. It discusses this possible impact in relation to three major aspects: the labour market in terms of employment and wages; performance of the health system; and the quality of care. Migration, and the migration of health-care professionals in particular, has raised concerns from both source and host countries. Health professional mobility impacts on the performance of health systems by changing the composition of the health workforce and outcomes in both origin and destination countries. The migration of health workers is both a response to the challenges of health systems in host and source countries, and a challenge in itself. The assessment concludes that there is not much evidence that migration of health professionals has had any significant adverse labour market impacts, while their positive contributions to the performance of health systems have been well documented. Individual migrants also have improved their welfare by migrating to developed destinations. Still, studies have shown that immigrant health professionals have not had equal opportunities for career progression. But there is continuing concern about brain drain of health workers from origin countries. While the United Kingdom had shown some concern on this development impact until recently, other major destination countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States) have rarely considered adverse impacts on source countries in their health worker admission policies. While circular migration involving short-term temporary migration back and forth between origin and destination countries has been advocated to address this situation, it has not been seriously considered by any country as an option to minimise brain drain while ensuring migrant rights and welfare.