The Caribbean Brain Drain: Nursing a Grievance

According to the World Bank, only one-quarter of nurses in the English-speaking Caribbean remain working in their countries. The rest leaves to work abroad, where working and living conditions are significantly better. The economic incentives of working abroad outweigh the challenges of staying. This is not a new phenomenon: it has been taking place for almost two centuries and is not confined to the Caribbean only. The Philippines and Indian state of Kerala are major suppliers of medical personnel to the world. There are more nursing posts than takers and if the current trends continue, the Caribbean faces a future of severely understaffed hospitals. The Economist argues that turning the tide will not only require for Caribbean countries to spend more on nursing but also for foreign demand to decrease. If healthcare is to improve in developing Caribbean countries, then keeping the nurses at home is a priority. – YaleGlobal