Hearing the term 'international trade in health services' for the first time, what's your first impression?
What is that?
Well, the the term itself refers to its meaning, which is like the... 'in and out' or 'import and export' of health services, including health workers.
There are 4 types of international trade in health services:
- Cross-border trade : It's like, ordering a lab test in other country from our own country / hiring or requesting professional consultation of a famous consultant abroad from our country.
- Consumption abroad : This one is like, you feel unsatisfied enough with the level of health service you may get from your own country, so you go to other country to seek medical consultation or treatment there.
- Commercial presence : Do you know that some of the hospitals in this country are owned by some organizations (business mostly) from other countries..? Those foreign-owned hospitals usually choose local health workers to be the workers there. It's like, an investment. Now that is what we call the commercial presence.
- Natural presence : Some of the rich countries have shortage in the numbers of local health workers (like nurses) they have. While some of the developing countries have high number of these workers. So, the workers may choose whether to work locally, or internationally (in those rich countries, with higher payments). They are exported. This is natural presence, or sometimes we call movement of persons.
☛ It is the negative side of 'consumption abroad' (no.2 above). Some countries are famous for its certain specialization in health services, so, more patients (even from other countries) come there to seek the specialized service. Higher salaries and better career prospects influenced doctors to work in such countries. This may result in brain drain, a situation which there is a critical shortage of health workforce in a country.
☛ I hope this 'brain drain' phenomenon will decrease. This, need attentions from governments, and determinations from healthcare workers!
Knowledge is power.
and He is the Most Powerful, for He knows everything :)
