The international migration of dentists: directions for research and policy

In 2010, the World Health Organization Global Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Health Personnel (the WHO Code) was adopted by the 193 Member States of the WHO. The WHO Code is a tool for global diplomacy, providing a policy framework to address the challenges involved in managing de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 2016-08, Vol.44 (4), p.301-312
Main Authors: Balasubramanian, Madhan, Brennan, David Simon, Spencer, A. John, Short, Stephanie Doris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dentistry
Dentists
Dentists - psychology
Dentists - statistics & numerical data
Dentists - supply & distribution
Developed Countries - statistics & numerical data
Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data
Emigration and Immigration - statistics & numerical data
Global Health
global organizations
health policy
Humans
international cooperation
Job Satisfaction
Migration
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Summary:In 2010, the World Health Organization Global Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Health Personnel (the WHO Code) was adopted by the 193 Member States of the WHO. The WHO Code is a tool for global diplomacy, providing a policy framework to address the challenges involved in managing dentist migration, as well as improving the retention of dental personnel in source countries. The WHO Code recognizes the importance of migrant dentist data to support migration polices; minimum data on the inflows, outflows and stock of dentists are vital. Data on reasons for dentist migration, job satisfaction, cultural adaptation issues, geographic distribution and practice patterns in the destination country are important for any policy analysis on dentist migration. Key challenges in the implementation of the WHO Code include the necessity to coordinate with multiple stakeholders and the lack of integrated data on dentist migration and the lack of shared understanding of the interrelatedness of workforce migration, needs and planning. The profession of dentistry also requires coordination with a number of private and nongovernmental organizations. Many migrant dentist source countries, in African and the South‐Asian WHO Regions, are in the early stages of building capacity in dentist migration data collection and research systems. Due to these shortcomings, it is prudent that developed countries take the initiative to pursue further research into the migration issue and respond to this global challenge.
ISSN:0301-5661
1600-0528
DOI:10.1111/cdoe.12223