The Migration of African Physicians: Trends and Push/Pull Factors (2008)

Undergraduate: Laura Houenou

Faculty Advisor: Victor Marshall
Department: Sociology

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Why do shortages in health care workers in developing countries exist and why are they persistent? Are these nations simply unable to produce enough of them or does the problem lie in retaining workers? Globalization has altered the ways nations interact by promoting increased trade, communication, and the spread of ideas. One result of globalization has been the creation of a global market for health care workers. During the earlier half of the twentieth century developed countries relied predominantly on producing their own health workers. In this new global world, there has been a shift towards greater importation of such workers. Conversely, the emigration rates of health workers from under developed and developing nations to developed nations have increased. An intuitive explanation for this trend may be that health workers from developing countries emigrate in the quest for higher profits that developed nations have to offer. However, this tempting explanation is too simplistic and neglects other potential factors that may influence the migration of health care workers. This study seeks to uncover the effects of various social, economic, and political conditions on the migration of African physicians to nine developed countries. The results could have important implications on immigration policies for nations that actively seek to maximize welfare and public health.