540.3
International Migration of Nurses from India: A Case Study of Delhi Nursing Colleges
Discussion: India has been and will continue to be an important source country of nurses for the developed countries in the light of emerging shortfall of nurses in the major destination countries in the future. Under the current scenario, it may be presumed an annual out-flow of 8-10 thousand nurses from India. However, in spite of the fact that the country has a stock of 1.6 million registered nurses, there is an additional requirement of 10 lakh nurses to fulfill nurse-population ratio of 1:500. The current nurse-population ratio stand at 1:1100 compared to the developed country averages of 1:150. Therefore, India needs to make double effort to produce nurses for meeting both domestic and international demand by creating a vast and sustainable infrastructure for the production and training of nurses.
Policy suggestions: First, improving the availability of data on migratory flows of nurses from the country. Second, a detailed analysis of alternatives available for procuring and filling up the vacant posts in the shortage areas on the one hand, and identifying and targeting the surplus areas for international recruitment of nurses on the other. Three, twining programmes between organizations of both source and destination countries to undertake programmes of research, staff exchange, staff training and support, and flow of resources to source countries. Four, preferential treatment for migrant nurses for immigration in the destination country and facilitate return as per the willingness of migrant nurses, and finally, signing of nurse-mobility partnership agreements with the important destination countries, such as, UK, USA, Middle Eastern countries, Ireland and Australia.