Changing patterns in the international migration of doctors and nurses to OECD countries

This chapter examines how the international migration of health workers to OECD countries has evolved since 2000. It analyses flows against the background of shifts in migration and health policies and economic and institutional change.At a time when skilled migration is on the increase, immigrant doctors and nurses account for mounting shares of the healthcare professionals who practice in the OECD area. The figures in 2010/11 were 23% for doctors and 14% for nurses although, less are foreign-trained than foreign-born, which suggests that host countries provide some of their training.This chapter also considers how the 2007/08 crisis and EU enlargement affect the immigration of doctors and nurses, particularly to Europe, and looks at the part played by immigration policies and the management of labour supply and demand in the healthcare sector. The chapter also volunteers a detailed analysis of the impact on countries of origin and looks at updated data for 2010/11 on the medical brain drain from 120 countries worldwide. The chapter concludes with a look at recent trends in the internationalisation of medical studies.