Migration of health professionals – effects for the participants in the process

Abstract

Мigration of health professionals is a growing worldwide phenomenon which presents various challenges a country's health system. In order to find a solution to deal with this phenomenon, it is necessary to study the motives for migration and to know the consequences of it. The aim оf this article is to systematize the effects of health professionals’ migration, considered in different aspects and sections - for the individual, the sending and receiving country, paying special attention to the consequences for the health system. The methods used include analysis and synthesis of scientific literature and reports of various international and national organizations. The results of the studies show that the migration of health professionals has both positive and negative effects for the participants in the process. One of the most substantial consequences for the sending countries is the loss of capital in the form of human and financial resources. In the receiving countries, greatest attention is paid to the reduced shortage of health professionals and among the most significant effects for the individual are the professional and financial opportunities they gain in the destination countries. Given the two-way effects of migration, the efforts of many national and international organizations are aimed at developing policies and strategies that offer approaches to overcome the negative consequences and enhance the benefits of the phenomenon.