• Migration

Migration

This report, published by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, examines migration of health professionals in six African countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe) during 1991-2000. It finds that the number of registered health professionals other than nurses increased in all six countries. However, there was a tendency for doctors to move from the public to the private sector, and from rural to urban areas. The report argues that these trends disadvantaged the poor, who cannot afford the fees charged at private institutions. Amongst workers who intended to migrate, economic factors were given as the most common reason.

The report concludes that the migration of skilled health professionals out of Africa has adversely affected the quality of care offered in health institutions. In order to mitigate this effect, it calls on African governments to ensure regular and fair provision of a living wage for health professionals. It also calls for developed countries to help poorer countries to contain migration of health professionals, and suggests that all countries (including non-Commonwealth countries) adopt the Commonwealth Code of Practice for International Recruitment. Other policy options include exchange programmes to place experienced staff abroad in selected posts for one to two years.

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