Aspects of medical migration with particular reference to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

Abstract

BackgroundIn most countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), there is no large-scale migration of medical graduates with diplomas obtained outside the EEA, which are international medical graduates (IMGs). In the United Kingdom however, health care is in part dependent on the influx of IMGs. In 2005, of all the doctors practising in the UK, 31% were educated outside the country. In most EEA-countries, health care is not dependent on the influx of IMGs.The aim of this study is to present data relating to the changes in IMG migration in the UK since the extension of the European Union in May 2004. In addition, data are presented on IMG migration in the Netherlands. These migration flows show that migration patterns differ strongly within these two EU-countries.MethodThis study makes use of registration data on migrating doctors from the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK and from the Dutch Department of Health. Moreover, data on the ratio of medical doctors in relation to a country’s population were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO).ResultsThe influx of IMGs in the UK has changed in recent years due to the extension of the European Union in 2004, the expansion of UK medical schools and changes in the policy towards non-EEA doctors.The influx of IMGs in the Netherlands is described in detail. In the Netherlands, many IMGs come from Afghanistan, Iraq and Surinam.Discussion and conclusionsThere are clear differences between IMG immigration in the UK and in the Netherlands. In the UK, the National Health Service continues to be very reliant on immigration to fill shortage posts, whereas the number of immigrant doctors working in the Netherlands is much smaller. Both the UK and the Netherlands’ regulatory bodies have shared great concerns about the linguistic and communication skills of both EEA and non-EEA doctors seeking to work in these countries. IMG migration is a global and intricate problem. The source countries, not only those where English is the first or second language, experience massive IMG migration flows.

The views of migrant health workers living in Austria and Belgium on return migration to sub-Saharan Africa

“…Contrary to the United Kingdom or Ireland, most countries of the European Economic Area do not actively recruit health workers trained outside it and, consequently, they do not receive such large-scale migration of health workers [ 34 ]. Nevertheless, despite the overall number of migrating health workers to these countries being small, the impact on the medical workforce for the source countries is significant [ 34 ].…”

How do international medical graduates and colleagues perceive and deal with difficulties in everyday collaboration? A qualitative study

“…IMGs have become an important resource for Norwegian health services over the last decades, similar to other European countries [2], USA, Canada and Australia [3], with most IMGs coming from Germany and neighbouring Scandinavian countries and around 3.5% from countries outside the European Schengen area [1]. Many IMGs in Norway work as general practitioners [4], with 25% of senior doctors in Norwegian hospitals being IMGs [1].…”

Language barriers and professional identity: A qualitative interview study of newly employed international medical doctors and Norwegian colleagues

“…IMGs are an important part of the workforce in many countries [1,2], but knowledge of how to facilitate IMG training and language skills is incomplete [14]. The language barriers participants described do not have clear associations with the IMGs' nationality or position.…”

“…A significant number of doctors leave their homeland to work in other countries [1,2]. In Norway, approximately 16% of practicing medical doctors hold foreign citizenship, with international medical graduates (IMGs) comprising a significant proportion of the GP workforce [3] and representing approximately 25% of senior doctors in hospitals [4].…”

“…In Norway, approximately 16% of practicing medical doctors hold foreign citizenship, with international medical graduates (IMGs) comprising a significant proportion of the GP workforce [3] and representing approximately 25% of senior doctors in hospitals [4]. IMGs have become an important resource for Norwegian health services, similar to other European countries [2], USA, Canada and Australia [1]. Doctors from EU/EEA countries are not subject to national language requirements due to the principle of free movement of labor.…”