Migration of healthcare professionals: practical and ethical considerations

Recruitment of healthcare professionals from developing countries to the UK is escalating rapidly, and is severely damaging the fragile healthcare systems of the countries involved. This is happening in spite of the Code of Practice of the Department of Health, which, although voluntary, was supposed to restrict such migration; unfortunately it has not proved effective so far. Steps are now urgently required to reverse this trend, in order to prevent the total collapse of some overseas health services. The Department of Health is planning to implement the Code of Practice more rigorously, but while it remains voluntary it is unlikely to solve the problem, in view of the (relative) shortage of healthcare professionals in this country. Other measures, including promoting the retention of locally trained staff in the UK, are urgently required.