A source and a destination country for migrant healthcare workers: the case of Ireland

Abstract Background Ireland has a long tradition of emigration, particularly to countries such as the United Kingdom and the USA. Since 2000, Ireland has become increasingly reliant upon migrant healthcare workers. At present, 43% of nurses and 45% of physicians registered in Ireland, trained internationally. Methods This study draws on literature and available data (migration and registration data) to illustrate recent patterns of healthcare worker migration into and out of Ireland. Results The data show that Ireland depends heavily on migrant healthcare workers to staff its health system. In 2021-22, internationally trained healthcare workers comprised 71% of new entrants to the medical register and 69% of new entrants to the nursing register. In terms of outward migration, the data also indicate a consistent pattern of outward migration of physicians to countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. Conclusions A heavy (and growing) reliance on migrant healthcare workers to staff the Irish health system implies a failure to train or retain sufficient healthcare workers locally and indicates weak healthcare workforce planning capacity. It also highlights a disconnect between Irish healthcare workforce planning and the WHO global code on the international recruitment of health personnel. This study will consider some of the risks associated with high rates of inward and outward healthcare worker migration in the Irish context.