Poor economic conditions and high HIV prevalence drive medical brain drain in Sub Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has to cope with an exodus of high skilled people. In an earlier blogpost on the brain drain it was highlighted that up to 20 000 professionals leave Africa each year.

In this study published in the World Bank Economic Review it is pointed out that the medical brain drain is highly correlated to low wages and high HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.  

Restrictions on the movement of professionals will do little to improve the situation, the crux of the matter is to acknowledge the problem and invest in health systems.