International Migration of Health Workers: A Human Rights Analysis

A human rights framework provides a formal and explicit way to examine the different social, political and economic problems that both give rise to, and result from, international migration, in particular inequality. It also allows clear and explicit articulation of where the obligation to do something about these human rights impacts lies under international human rights law, together with migration of health workers; and ensures that any improvements in the right to health are achieved without any express limitation of any other rights, including freedom of movement and rights in work. The most appropriate response to the problem of health worker migration is likely to be an integrated one: a combination of preventative and mitigating responses that address the human rights causes and consequences of the migration of health workers; and ensures that any improvements in the right to health are achieved without any express limitation of any other rights, including freedom of movement and rights in work. [From abstract]