CommentaryDentist migration and retention
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Background
The Joint Learning Initiative (JLI) has described a migration of educated persons from developing and poor areas of the world to more affluent and established nations. This movement requires that a global effort be made to understand the transnational flow of labor, knowledge, and finance so that appropriate policies can be put into place and efforts made to retain talent in these developing nations. Specific to dentistry, the 193 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have
Dental Workforce Globally
Around 1.5 million dentists are currently in the global dental workforce, which accounts for about 80% of the oral health personnel (Table 1). Forty percent are based in World Bank (WB) high-income countries, 33% in upper-middle-income countries, and 26% in lower-middle-income countries, leaving only about 1% remaining in low-income countries. In 40 countries in the African region, there are fewer than five dentists per 100,000 people. Yet people in these low-socioeconomic regions suffer from
Migration Patterns and Results
In general, health care practitioners are no different from other workers, migrating most often for better paying jobs, professional development, career growth, and better working and living conditions. Some migration is influenced by political and economic forces that have a broader scope as well. Alterations in the political atmosphere and civil disturbances can produce forced migration (Fig 1).
Policy Makers and Future Plans
Few international organizations are actively tracking and proposing policies to manage dental care provider migration. WHO has provided leadership on world health issues, improving the retention of health personnel in source countries. The WHO Code provides guidelines for employers in destination countries regarding fair recruitment and contractual practices of migrant health care personnel. They also support and encourage practices that respect workers’ rights and responsibilities.
A number of
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Balasubramanian M, Brennan DS, Spencer AJ, et al: The international migration of dentists: Directions for research and policy. Community Dent Oral Epidmiol 44:301-312, 2016
Reprints available from M Balasubramanian, Australian Research Ctr for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, 122 Frome St, The Univ of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; fax: +61 8 8313 3070; e-mail: [email protected]