The Aotearoa New Zealand doctor shortage: current context and strategies for retention

Abstract

The international migration of health professionals has been an ongoing issue with the medical workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are many reasons why New Zealand-trained doctors choose to leave. Often it has been to gain overseas experience, with many eventually returning to New Zealand; however, this has now changed, with increasing numbers not returning. Little has been done to combat this developing problem, amidst an increasingly competitive global market for health professionals. There is public and political concern about the current shortage and uneven distribution of doctors, particularly because this has fostered unsustainable working conditions, which diminishes the provision of safe healthcare in this country. This article examines the context behind the migration of New Zealand-trained doctors and proposes several strategies for retention as potential solutions to the underlying problem.