Rapidly Increasing Brain Drainage in Türkiye: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Year 2024, , 51 - 57, 05.07.2024

Ayşegül Gürel Ortaç , Ülkü Baykal

https://doi.org/10.26650/CURARE.2024.1489474

Abstract

Recently, increasing economic, social, and political imbalances in the country have caused important health problems. In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is seen that the human power deficit in health and the problems of health inequality have increased. Health workers cannot obtain economic and social motivation resources despite difficulties they experience. These losses of qualified manpower. Migration depends on many factors, such as the conditions and policies of the source and destination countries and the characteristics of the migrating individuals. Brain drain is the migration of well-educated, expert, and qualified people to developed countries to improve living conditions. It is usually carried out by people seeking better opportunities, living standards and working conditions. Nurses, who are essential to healthcare delivery, are particularly affected by this phenomenon. The movement of nurses from developing countries to more developed countries creates challenges for both the source and destination countries. In Türkiye, it is seen that the rate has increased with a serious acceleration in the last period. Addressing this problem requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving economic conditions, work environments, professional development opportunities, and social recognition. By implementing these strategies, countries can better protect their health workforce and provide more stable and effective health systems for their populations. This review aims to highlight the rapidly increasing brain drain among healthcare workers in Türkiye and the causes thereof.

Keywords

Health workers, nurse, international migration, brain drain, reasons for migration

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