Are We Facing a Radical Change in the Migration Behavior of Medical Graduates from Less Developed Countries? Demographic Profile vs. Social Push Factors

Abstract

The phenomenon of migration among medical personnel from less developed countries is a large one, with negative effects on the origin country, but more worrying is graduates’ propensity to migrate during or immediately after university studies. The analysis of the labor market in the health sector from the last two decades shows us greater attractiveness of employment in (more) economically developed states compared to the demand from the health sector in graduates’ origin countries. This research’s purpose is to identify the determinants of the propensity to study and work abroad of medical students as a defined factor for better employment, and to identify the push factors in the origin country. As a result of the dichotomous nature of the dependent variables, logistic regression was applied. The independent variables (gender, residence, medical specialization, grades and perceived economic status) were used to identify the odds of the intention to migrate for studies. The results highlighted a higher propensity to migrate for studies among medical students, with opportunities offered by universities differing across countries and geographical areas. Moreover, students with a lower level of household income have openness to migrate, the tuition fees being managed through part-time/temporary employment during studies.