gm

i happened to come across some nursing-focused initiatives in the past few weeks and cannot reconcile the phenomenon of nursing migration.

nurses are undeniably the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide and yet there is a global shortage of nurses. by 2030, we will face a shortage of 13 million nurses around the world. a common strategy of high-income countries is to aggressively recruit nurses from abroad to fill gaps. however, this tactic is counterintuitive, especially in light of global health initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare systems. while we work to enhance nursing capabilities in regions that are most in need, these very efforts are undermined by the same countries encouraging migration of skilled nurses to wealthier regions, draining resources from areas where they are critically needed.

the drivers of this global market is complex. nurses in low and middle-income countries are often drawn to the prospect of earning significantly more abroad. a nurse from the philippines can earn as much as ten times the amount at home when they move to the united states. this potential migration, paradoxically, might encourage more people to join the nursing profession at home. however, regulating the emigration of nurses or curtailing foreign demand do not necessarily mean that the source country alleviates their challenges in workforce shortage. without the potential for emigration and associated economic prospects, people might be dissuaded from pursuing nursing at all.

we so often say technology will solve all of these workforce shortage issues. in the past weeks, i have also encountered a tele-consultation model that has been touted as useful and cost-effective. when we delved deeper into the data, we realized that the cost savings were driven by the significant reduction in doctor time, but the workload for nurses increased multi-fold. in the development of innovation, we need to keep in mind the challenges that we are facing as a global healthcare community and nuance our aims. this tele-consultation model, albeit cost effective, is ultimately not a feasible model of care.

the global nursing shortage is more than a simple supply-and-demand issue. It's a reflection of broader global inequities and challenges in healthcare. as i delve deeper into the field of health system innovations and global health, i’m struck by the complexity of these issues. sometimes it can be difficult to reconcile in my head. there are no easy answers, but understanding the various forces at play – economic, ethical, and practical – is maybe a crucial first step.

again, throwing you some food for thought without answers :)