The Migration of Medical Professionals from Dictatorships to the United States of America: Why America Resists to Benefit from the Brain Drain

The Migration of Medical Professionals from Dictatorships to the United States of America: Why America Resists to Benefit from the Brain Drain

In the United States, the Migration Policy Institute reported 263,000 immigrants have degrees in health-related fields yet do not hold the positions in the healthcare system due to existing rigid licensing regulations. Despite the growing shortage of doctors which estimates to reach the levels between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033, these regulations still create an unnecessary timely and costly barrier for already experienced physicians. In the light of the Global COVID-19 pandemic, a number of possible solutions to ease the licensing process came out of the shadow. The main goal of this presentation is to explore the reasoning for marginalization of the immigrant medical cohort and the ways it is supported by the US authorities. In addition, some foreign practices of legitimation of immigrant healthcare workers will be explored and suggested for implementation to the US system.