191243 International migration of health workers: Impacts and implications

Monday, October 27, 2008: 2:30 PM

Joni Ketter , American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, AFT Healthcare, Washington, DC
The international migration of health workers has been going on for decades. The trend, however, is for the developed world to rely more and more upon workers from developing countries, taking scarce human resources from areas that can ill afford to lose them. Meanwhile, employers in developing countries refuse to engage in long-term strategies to recruit, educate and retain workers at home. It is the serious concern on the issue of the migration of health workers and neglected health care systems worldwide that the international labor community has delved into the issue of international migration of health workers with Public Services International (PSI) taking the lead. A research study conducted by PSI and its union affiliates revealed that

Ninety-three percent of women migrant workers in the health sector would prefer to stay in their home country if they could earn a living wage and work in a safe environment. In response to the research, a multi-year campaign by PSI was launched which focuses on ethical recruitment standards and the protection of all workers' rights.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand trends affecting the international migration of health care workers. 2. Evaluate the impact on health care workers and health systems in the developing and developed world. 3. Describe and discuss the findings of the research study undertaken by Public Services International (PSI) and its union affiliates. 4. Describe and discuss the multi-year campaign launched by PSI.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: There is no conflict of interest. I am Associate Director for AFT Healthcare, the healthcare division of the American Federation of Teachers. I have presented workshops to registered nurses and other healthcare professionals and I have presented at APHA before. I'm the U.S. representative on the Public Services International project on International Migrationof Women in the Health Sector.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.