Medical migration: who are the real losers?

Abstract

In Walt's analysis of the role of international organisations in the future delivery of health care she emphasised the rising inequalities between and within countries and noted the effect of increased global liberalisation of trade, particularly the implications of greater freedom and deregulation of trade on health professionals. 1 Walt G Globalisation of international health. Lancet. 1998; 351: 434-437 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar The migration of physicians from less-developed countries to more-developed countries is not a new phenomenon, but the ethics of national policies, which allow countries to recruit en-masse the most qualified physicians, at no cost or penalty to themselves, should now be challenged. Medical migration and inequity of health careThe 17% decline in UK government investment in research and development in real terms over the past two decades prompted fears that scientists would seek greener pastures abroad. Hence last week's announcement of a £1 billion capital boost from the government and the Wellcome Trust for the science budget was seen as a step towards stemming any brain drain. Full-Text PDF