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Published on: November 7, 2020
COVID-19 and doctor emigration: the case of Ireland
Niamh Humphries1, Jennifer Creese2, John-Paul Byrne2
1Research Department, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. niamhhumphries@rcpi.ie.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced, not altered, doctor emigration from Ireland. Addressing systemic issues like poor working conditions is crucial for retaining medical professionals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Migration Studies
- Public Health Policy
- Healthcare Workforce Research
Background:
- Ireland has faced significant doctor emigration since the 2008 recession.
- The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on this trend was investigated.
- Understanding factors influencing physician mobility is critical for healthcare system stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced existing patterns of doctor emigration from Ireland.
- To identify whether the pandemic disrupted or reinforced physician outflow.
- To inform policy for doctor retention and return.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 hospital doctors in Ireland between June-July 2020.
- Snowball sampling via Twitter was used due to a work-from-home order.
- Interviews were performed remotely using Zoom or telephone.
Main Results:
- Two distinct groups emerged: 'COVID Returners' (Irish emigrants returning due to the pandemic) and 'COVID Would-be Emigrants' (doctors planning to leave).
- While some emigrant plans were disrupted by travel restrictions, core emigration drivers were systemic issues within Ireland's health system.
- Key push factors included a culture of medical emigration, poor working conditions, and limited post availability.
Conclusions:
- The pandemic amplified existing trends in doctor emigration rather than creating new ones.
- Ireland needs a clear policy strategy to address the root causes of doctor emigration.
- Prioritizing doctor retention and return is essential for the stability of the Irish healthcare system.
Background:
Since the 2008 recession, Ireland has experienced large-scale doctor emigration. This paper seeks to ascertain whether (and how) the COVID-19 pandemic might disrupt or reinforce existing patterns of doctor emigration.
Method:
This paper draws on qualitative interviews with 31 hospital doctors in Ireland, undertaken in June-July 2020. As the researchers were subject to a government mandated work-from-home order at that time, they utilised Twitter™ to contact potential respondents (snowball sampling); and conducted interviews via Zoom™ or telephone.
Findings:
Two cohorts of doctors were identified; COVID Returners (N = 12) and COVID Would-be Emigrants (N = 19). COVID Returners are Irish-trained emigrant doctors who returned to Ireland in March 2020, just as global travel ground to a halt. They returned to be closer to home and in response to a pandemic-related recruitment call issued by the Irish government. COVID Would-be Emigrants are hospital doctors considering emigration. Some had experienced pandemic-related disruptions to their emigration plans as a result of travel restrictions and border closures. However, most of the drivers of emigration mentioned by respondents related to underlying problems in the Irish health system rather than to the pandemic, i.e. a culture of medical emigration, poor working conditions and the limited availability of posts in the Irish health system.
Discussion/Conclusion:
This paper illustrates how the pandemic intensified and reinforced, rather than radically altered, the dynamics of doctor emigration from Ireland. Ireland must begin to prioritise doctor retention and return by developing a coherent policy response to the underlying drivers of doctor emigration.
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