According to a report by the World Health Organization, so many health care workers from developing countries are migrating to rich countries that health services in poorer countries are becoming seriously harmed. Even basic health care, in some parts, is becoming very hard to provide because so many doctors and nurses have left.

The report is called Human Resources for Health.

In The Philippines, over 15,000 nurses go to work abroad each year – very few of them come back. There are even doctors in the Philippines who get jobs abroad as nurses after taking a special course. So many nurses from South Africa have gone to work in the UK and other developed countries, that there are now serious problems providing health care for its people.

There is a ?serious shortage’ of health care workers in 57 countries around the world – more than three quarters of them are in Africa.

The main reason health care professionals leave developing countries to work in rich countries is money and prospects. Some also go abroad to get experience – bit this reason is way down when compared to money.

The National Health Service (UK) has a large number of health professionals from abroad. Some countries are beginning to point their fingers at the UK for ?poaching’ their HCPs (Health Care Professionals). Most of the migration goes to North America, Western Europe, Australasia and Japan.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today