The Nursing Shortage In India And Its Connection To International Nurse Migration
Keywords:
Effecting a meaningful transformation in India's nursing landscape requires a steadfast and resolute political commitment.Abstract
Within any healthcare system, the quality and nature of services delivered are predominantly influenced by the health workforce. Globally, data consistently indicate that healthcare systems face nursing shortages, with variations based on regional disparities and the urban-rural divide. While nursing services play an indispensable role in both preventive and curative aspects of India's healthcare framework, historical records demonstrate a persistent shortage of nurses in the country since its independence.
Numerous studies have identified a complex interplay of professional, social, and economic factors as contributors to the nursing scarcity in India. These same factors also incentivize Indian nurses to explore opportunities for international migration. High-income countries have recognized India as a valuable reservoir of well-trained, English-speaking nurses, and they actively recruit from this pool to address their own nursing shortages. This has led to a substantial outflow of nursing professionals from India, potentially exacerbating the challenge of ensuring consistent access to high-quality healthcare services, particularly for disadvantaged populations.
