Tackling global shortages in health workers

doi:10.1136/bmj.a1971

Published 21 October 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1971
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a1971

Editorials

Tackling global shortages in health workers

Initial success of UK government strategies in Malawi must besustained

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The global movement of doctors and other health professionalsin pursuit of work is a vast interconnected web. A recent reviewof Nigerian state medical graduates found that a third migratedto the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada within 10 years.¹

Every health professional has a right to seek work whereverthey wish for professional reasons, such as better working conditionsand better prospects for further training and career advancement,or for personal reasons, such as better remuneration or livingconditions for their family. But the movement of doctors fromthe health system where they were trained or where they arecurrently working can cause unpredictability or shortages inthe workforce. These effects are exacerbated when they occurin health systems already under strain from an insufficientworkforce or from the burden of HIV.

The importance of the global migration of health professionalshas been recognised for some time. . . . [Full text of this article]

Olivia Roberts, senior research officer

¹ International Department, BMA, London WC1H 9JP

oroberts@bma.org.uk