A scoping review on medical students’ international migration: trends, determinants, and implications for global health workforce planning

Migration intentions were widely reported among medical students across different regions, though the proportions varied by country. This serves as a predictor and could indicate the evolving global trend of physician migration in the years to come. Financial prospects, career opportunities, and working conditions play critical roles in determining the migration intentions of medical students. Targeted retention strategies should be implemented especially in resource-limited settings to address brain drain, although at the same time achieving balance in ethical recruitment practices in high-income countries. Future research is warranted to study the longitudinal trends of migration intention and assess the impact of policies on retention.