Brain drain of Tunisian competencies: The case of health professionals

Abstract

Abstract The world is witnessing mobility of human resources facilitated by globalization and by international agreements on trade in services GATS. The advanced demographic transition in developed economies and increase in aging population have put pressures on demand of professionals from countries of the south to sustain economic growth. Health systems in countries of the south are facing increasing rate of migration of health workforce including physicians and allied personnel. Such situation led WHO to promote the code of ethical recruitment of international health professionals. The optional nature of the code did not allow its wider implementation. The brain drain of scare resources represents a real challenge for health systems in several countries including Tunisia. Since 2011, the pace of migration of Tunisian health professionals and particularly physicians have increased because of worsening working conditions, limited career path and uncertainty about the future. Europe and particularly France, Canada, Germany and Gulf states constitute the main destination of Tunisian migrants partly explained by cultural aspects including Arabic and French languages and similarity of Francophone model of medical education. The present qualitative study including focus group discussions with main stake holders aims at: Measuring the brain drain of Tunisian health professionalsAssessing the impact of brain drain on the Tunisian health systemSharing initiatives aimed at retaining health professionals in public sector and inside the country.Learning lessons from other countries on working models for well organized and mutually beneficial migration of health professionals.