<h3>By Alejandro Coca, Head of Business, TrueProfile.io</h3>
<p>Since the country’s independence in 1947, India has been the world’s greatest supplier of immigrant physicians. According to the <a href="https://www.oecd.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)</a>, over <strong>69,000</strong> Indian-trained physicians worked in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia in 2017, accounting for <strong>6.6%</strong> of all doctors registered with the <a href="https://www.nmc.org.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medical Council of India</a> (MCI). The nation with the biggest number of medical schools in the world has also become a top provider of nurses (typically trailing only the Philippines). Nearly 56,000 Indian-trained nurses work in the same four nations, accounting for approximately 3% of all registered nurses in India. Researchers estimate that between 20% and 50% of Indian healthcare employees are planning to seek jobs abroad. This trend is driven by a desire to <a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/global-demand-medical-professionals-drives-indians-abroad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pursue global career opportunities and gain experience in an international setting</a>.</p>
<p>In recent years, some countries have actively sought out and welcomed Indian medical professionals seeking employment abroad. For instance, in the United Kingdom, a special expedited visa for doctors and other medical workers was announced in the fall of 2019. The immigration programme would help fill positions in the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/">National Health Service (NHS)</a> to alleviate shortages. More than <strong>15,000</strong> doctors in the NHS got their primary medical qualification in India in 2017, and as of early 2019, Indians were the largest non-British nationality employed by the NHS.</p>
<p>Besides, the opportunity to work with leading healthcare providers with state-of-the-art equipment and employee-friendly policies – what attracts many healthcare workers to relocate abroad is a <a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/global-demand-medical-professionals-drives-indians-abroad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high quality of life and the advantage of education and healthcare benefits for family members</a>. <strong>In addition, below are 3 key factors influencing Indian medical talent to pursue career prospects across international destinations:</strong></p>
<h2>1. Increased Cultural Competence</h2>
<p>One of the benefits of working abroad is the candidate’s increased cultural awareness. Opportunities to interact with native speakers and acquire a new language are thereby increased. In addition, through engaging with patients and professionals of various cultures and religions, the applicant can acquire new techniques and abilities that would otherwise be impossible to gain exposure to in their home country. A variety of cultural customs and beliefs influence the health of people in various parts of the world. Therefore, the quality of treatment you provide to your patients will be affected by your knowledge and sensitivity to cultural norms. There have been many medical professionals who have been able to work in another country and bring their newfound knowledge and skills back to their own country. </p>
<h2>2. Increased Earning Potential </h2>
<p>Considerations like pay, benefits, and room for professional advancement typically top the list when searching for a new job. Whenever this happens, several people start looking for healthcare jobs abroad, where they can pick and choose among countries with different levels of medical development. An individual’s healthcare career, income, and quality of life all benefit from moving their job hunt abroad in order to secure foreign experience. Working in the medical field in a developed country provides a unique opportunity to be on the cutting edge of medical science. Simply having this background will make you a more attractive candidate for future positions and can help to fast-track your career.</p>
<h2>3. Increased Chances of International Opportunities </h2>
<p>For the past two years, medical professionals have been in high demand across the world. And, since this need will only increase over the next decade, the healthcare industry is sure to provide plenty of employment possibilities. Those with foreign experience are more likely to be recruited for open positions abroad. <a href="https://www.highereducationdigest.com/why-are-indian-healthcare-professionals-pursuing-international-careers/#:~:text=A%20healthcare%20job%20abroad%20comes,in%20fast%2Dmoving%20international%20markets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Employers in the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Ireland are actively seeking competent overseas medical experts to fill positions in their organisations</a>.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Increasing employment through the export of Indian medical professionals, the healthcare industry was highlighted earlier this year by the <a href="https://www.msde.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MSDE</a>, the government agency responsible for workforce development and training. By 2022, the ministry said it will have sent <strong>300,000</strong> doctors, nurses, and associated health professionals to places including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan, Sweden, and Singapore. These individuals would not be legal permanent residents, but rather, as has been reported in numerous media outlets, workers in industries facing a demand and population growth crisis.</p>
<p>The MSDE is aiming to connect the Indian labour market with the rest of the world by training and sending out health workers to other countries. Industries such as automotive manufacturing, building and construction, manufacturing machinery, and the hospitality industry have been suggested as potential recipients of skilled employees from the United States. <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/exporting-indian-healthcare-workers-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In the next three decades, as the global population ages, there will be a larger need for healthcare employees, which might be good news for the Indian economy</a>.</p>