Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Global Issues Lecture Series
Brain Drain: A Search for Equitable Global Solutions

Dr. Thuy Bui
University of Pittsburgh Physicians
Division of Internal Medicine

On March 19, Global Solutions cosponsored the final installment of the Global Issues Lecture Series for the 2008 academic year. Dr. Thuy Bui of UPMC gave a lecture titled “Brain Drain: A Search for Equitable Global Solutions” that addressed the global health workforce crisis caused by workforce migration from developing countries to the United States and other developed nations.

 As a result of being overworked, underpaid, and psychologically taxed, many healthcare workers from developing countries join the ranks of the International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in recipient countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Thus countries like the United States get the best of what the developing world has to offer, leaving poorer countries devoid of their most promising healthcare students and workers. These IMGs account for a full 25% of U.S. physicians. This emigration factor is most felt in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is little training coupled with high emigration.

Dr. Bui listed ethical recruitment practices in the U.S., exchange programs for doctors, and worldwide standardization of pay as practical, but improbable solutions. Studies have shown that the most effective solution apart from a systemic change is training lots of community workers, as they are unlikely to leave and can provide basic healthcare services.

 Dr. Bui left us with two key questions to consider. Is it fair to expect Africans to spend enough money to keep doctors there? Should the United States and others take responsibility for not draining poorer countries of medical professionals? It is important to consider the consequences as our highly selective medical schools reject thousands of Americans every year, while simultane­ously accepting a high number of foreign students who are greatly needed at home.

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