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The Migration of Health Care Workers in the Western Hemisphere

Issues and Impacts

  • Author: UN, ECLAC
  • Publication date: December 2010
  • Page count: 48
  • Language(s) in this book: English
  • Sales number: 09.II.G.98

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About the product

Health care migration is a large and global business. Recruitment is decentralized, involves both public and private sector entrepreneurs, and is difficult to regulate. The countries of the Western Hemisphere are important players in the global health market. In the major migrant receiving Western Hemisphere countries, the US and Canada, the concern is that domestically educated nurses will not be sufficient to meet growing demands. The recruitment of immigrant professionals in nursing fields helps fill existing gaps. This publication outlines a range of issues related to health care workers, their patterns of movement, their roles in the work force primarily in the US and Canada, and the impacts of health care migration on source and receiving countries. It tracks the largest segment of migrating health care workers: nurses and long term/direct care providers. It also covers ethical issues and looks at efforts, especially in the Caribbean region to manage flight.