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The international migration of health workers: a human rights analysis
Migration impacts on the right to health of health system users in the countries of origin
Authors:
J. Bueno de Mesquita; M. Gordon
Publisher:
Medact, 2005
This MedAct report argues that a human rights framework provides a way to examine the social, political and economic problems that are caused by and come from the international migration of health workers. In particular, it will allow a better understanding of inequalities and highlight how mechanisms to ensure accountability can be used using international human rights laws.
The report makes a number of recommendations. It argues that countries of origin should increase investment in strengthening health systems, train and recruit adequate numbers of health workers, and engage with countries of destination and private sector recruiters to develop coordinated policy responses that respect the human rights of all those involved. Recruiting countries need to: refrain from proactively recruiting health workers; protect against the active recruitment of private sector agencies; and engage with private sector recruiters and employers to ensure consistent national responses. Private sector recruitment agencies and employers need to ensure that migrant health workers in their employment receive information about their human rights and ensure that they respect the human rights of migrant health workers. International financial institutions and donors need to give greater attention to the role of human resources and ensure that ceilings are not set on social sector expenditure that prevent states in meeting these HRH obligations.
