CORRUPTION AND EMIGRATION OF PHYSICIANS FROM AFRICA

Abstract

Medical brain drain remains a major challenge for African countries mostly characterized by poor economic, political and health institutions. This paper seeks to determine how corruption in the home country affects physician emigration from Africa. Econometric estimations are implemented on a panel of 50 African countries over the period 1995-2004, using both the dynamic panel data approach and the count data analysis. Our results suggest that: first, corruption promotes physician emigration from Africa. The most corrupt countries experience higher physician emigration rates. Second, income level, especially the returns to education, is one of the channels through which corruption promotes physician emigration. To ensure retention of African health-care professionals and ultimate reduction in medical brain drain, the fight against corruption must be one of the essential measures.