Brain Study - by Dr. M. Balzan - 1/11/2006

link to The Study

Study on Medical Manpower Migration
Dr Martin Balzan MD FRCP(lond) FEFIM
Consultant Physician
Ms Tessa Bugeja
Medical Student

Objective: To determine Medical Migration Figures as of September 2006.
Methods:
Descriptive cross-sectional study.
��Source of Data – Malta Medical Council register. Doctors graduating from 1992 to 2001 from the University of Malta, and registering as Medical practitioners from 1994 to 2003 with the Medical council of Malta were included.

��Two doctors from each year of graduation currently residing in Malta, were
asked to give details on the current whereabouts and position of the doctors who graduated in their year.

��Data was verified against the General Medical council UK database and the medline publication database. A google internet search was made of the names of doctors currently indicated as living abroad.

Main results
There were 328 doctors in the medical register. 3 doctors had
graduated abroad and registered for the first time in Malta. Data
for 3 doctors was unavailable or could not be confirmed.

Data was collected on 322 doctors (99.1%)
51.6% (166 out of 322) of doctors graduating in Malta left the
island.
07.5% (24) or 2 out of every 15 doctors leaving Malta actually
came back.
17.7% (57) doctors became general practitioners
6.8% (22) doctors are currently in full time private practice
10.9% (35) doctors are currently working in the Health centres
62.7% (166 out of 265) or two out of three hospital doctors are
leaving the country

Career advancement
54.2% (13 out of 24) of returning doctors are currently in the
specialist grades
17.2% (17 out of 99) local hospital doctors are currently in the
specialist grades
Comment : Doctors studying abroad may have
��better local career opportunities when they return.
��Second possible explanation – doctors working abroad will only return if they see a good carrier prospect in Malta.

Yearly data – the EU effect
60%(96 out of 160) of all Doctors registering in 1997, 1999, 2001, left
Malta
72% (96 out of 133) of hospital doctors registering in 1997, 1999, 2001
left Malta
6.7% (8 out of 119) doctors registering in 2001 2003 -became general practitioners

Comment :
��Full extent of brain seen after 5 years of registration
��More doctors have left our shores, than previous 4 years, and
��fewer and fewer chose life as a general practitioner.
��Fewer doctors seem to be coming back as well.

2003 data – comment
Is the brain drain slowing down ?
��Probably not enough time has passed since registration to see the full Extent of the
brain drain.
��The UK seems to have shut its door to non-UK applicants in general surgery.
(certainly not in other specialities)
��A number of doctors could be attracted to stay in Malta – as gradually more
structured post graduate training programs are introduced in the new hospital.
��As the USA is facing manpower shortages tbe brain drain may shift from the UK
to the US.