Migration intentions of Ghanaian medical students: the influence of existing funding mechanisms of medical education ("the fee factor")

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To explore the effects of fee paying status on migration intentions of Ghanaian medical students. DESIGN: Cross sectional questionnaire based survey. SETTING: All established Ghanaian medical schools with students in their clinical years. PARTICIPANTS: Fee-paying and non-fee-paying Ghanaian medical students in their clinical years.None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Migration intentions of Ghanaian medical students after graduation, Allegiance to Government of Ghana. RESULTS: Approximately half (49%) of the medical students surveyed had intentions of migrating after school. Over 48% of those with migration intentions plan on doing so immediately after completing their house job, while 44% plan to migrate at least one year after their house job. The most popular destination chosen by the potential migrant doctors was North America (38%). Fee-paying students were significantly more likely (OR=2.11, CI=1.32, 3.38) than non-fee-paying students to have intentions of migrating after their training. Secondly, fee-paying students were more likely (OR=9.66, CI=4.42, 21.12) than non-fee paying students to feel they owe no allegiance to the Government of Ghana because of their fee-paying status. CONCLUSIONS: Medical Students' fee-paying status affects their intentions to migrate and their allegiance to the country after completion of their training.