Migration of Health professionals in six countries: a synthesis report
African countries are confronted with the growing problem of the mass exodus of health professionals to the more developed countries. Migration of personnel is defined as, “the voluntary movement of workers from one employment station to another in search of different working arrangements”. It occurs within and across national boundaries. The expression 'brain drain' refers to a situation where skilled persons move across national boundaries. Even though the phenomenon is not new to the continent, there is concern over the acceleration of the problem in recent years. Owing to a wide range of economic and political factors, health professionals have been leaving for destinations within the region and abroad. The advent of more efficient electronic communication networks since the 1990s has made the movement of health professionals much easier than before, as potential migrants are better informed of opportunities in other countries.
The Report of the Special Working Group on the World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution and the Brain Drain Problem in Africa (WHO, 1997) recommended that WHO request member countries to evaluate the magnitude of problems associated with the movement of health professionals. The resolution WHA54.12 on Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery was adopted in May 2001. In accordance with this resolution, Member States requested the Director General of WHO to provide support in setting up mechanisms for inquiry into the global shortage of nursing and midwifery personnel.
