Why are medical professionals emigrating abroad?

India is experiencing a dramatic change in the trend of medical professionals emigrating, with an increasing number from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emigrating abroad for better prospects. This trend is now overtaking Tier 1 city migration rates, fueled by reasons like few local job opportunities, better pay abroad, and a strong urge to enhance their family's economic status. With the world's need for qualified healthcare personnel on the increase, workers from minor Indian cities are taking advantage to practice abroad in nations where there is a severe shortage of medical practitioners.

In 2024 alone, Ireland granted more than 38,000 work permits to non-EU nationals, with about 12,000 being given to healthcare professionals. Most of the permits went to workers from India, Brazil, the Philippines, China, and Pakistan, said Dr. Akram Ahmad, Academically Global.

In the UK, one in four nurses has been recruited from abroad, with many coming from developing countries facing their own healthcare shortages, such as India. The number of internationally trained nurses in the UK has doubled in six years, reaching a record 200,000, highlighting the National Health Service's (NHS) reliance on foreign-trained staff due to an inadequate domestic training system.

In Australia, the government has actively recruited Indian doctors to fill healthcare workforce gaps. For example, Western Australia welcomed 150 trainee doctors from India in early 2025 to support its overburdened health system, particularly in rural regions.

The migration of medical professionals from smaller Indian cities is primarily driven by:

Limited Career Advancement: Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities tend to lag behind in the area of advanced healthcare. They don't have fundamental infrastructural advancements like in metro cities and foreign countries. Reflecting on long term advantages and skill acquisition, professionals eagerly anticipate migration.

Higher Paychecks: Foreign countries place real importance to medicine. With modern-day infrastructure and amenities, they look forward to admitting equally talented professionals. For the same, they are ready to employ higher paychecks, which is not otherwise feasible in India. Countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the Gulf countries pay much higher salaries compared to here.

Improved Work Conditions: One aspect prevalent in the medical field is the lack of work-life balance. A 20-hour shift is usual to any physician. The sector tends to overlook hospital facilities and working conditions for employees,, thereby making better hospital facilities, professional development opportunities, and work-life balance render overseas careers appealing abroad.

Streamlined Licencing Routes: With more defined licencing exam processes and support programs, the route to obtaining foreign employment has become more organized.

Quality of Life: Physicians such as ourselves are human beings, too. They've been taught as functioning robots right from their inception. During the changing times, they're becoming loud about their rights and wish to have a better quality of life. It appears as a promising choice while emigrating overseas.

Indian healthcare professionals' migration is fueled by both domestic challenges and appealing opportunities overseas. Though the trend provides personal advantages and contributes to destination countries' alleviation of shortages, it is a serious challenge to India's healthcare system in ensuring sufficient staffing levels to respond to domestic healthcare demands.