Health Workforce and International Migration

This paper examines health workforce and migration policies in New Zealand, with a specialfocus on the international recruitment of doctors and nurses.2. The health workforce in New Zealand, as in all OECD countries, plays a central role in the healthsystem. Nonetheless, maybe more than for any other OECD country, the health workforce in New Zealandcannot be considered without taking into account its international dimension.3. New Zealand has the highest proportion of migrant doctors among OECD countries, and one ofthe highest for nurses. There is no specific immigration policy for health professionals, although thepermanent and temporary routes make it relatively easy for doctors and nurses who can get theirqualification recognised to immigrate in New Zealand. At the same time, New Zealand also has highemigration rates of health workers, mainly to other OECD countries. International migration is thus at thesame time an opportunity and a challenge for the management of the human resources for health (HRH) inNew Zealand.4. Increasing international competition for highly skilled workers raises important issues such assustainability and ability to compete in a global market. In this context, new approaches to improve theinternational recruitment of health workers, as well as developing alternative policies, may need to beconsidered. As for international recruitment, better coordination and stronger collaboration between mainstakeholders could contribute to more effective and pertinent international recruitment.