L’émigration des médecins algériens : phénomène normal ou véritable exode ?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of medical migration in Algeria for at least three decades. Using different data sources, we have calculated emigration rates on a global scale and in some specialities. We have also looked at the doctor’s salaries in the public sector in order to find out whether they are well or poorly paid in comparison with executives’ managers in the economic sector, private healthcare and those practising in certain foreign countries. According to our estimates, the emigration of Algerian doctors cannot be considered as a real exodus if we look at doctors practising in France who have obtained their diploma in Algeria. The emigration ratio of this population was 8.63% in 2016. Differently, when the place of birth is considered, the estimated emigration ratio was 23.35%; a rate close to those recorded by some Sub-Saharan African countries which are experiencing a worrying exodus. In the future, shortages may concern certain specialities particularly affected by emigration, such as radiology (24.69%), nephrology (24.85%) but above all psychiatry (40.27%). Doctors, whatever their rank, are relatively better paid than executives’ managers in the economic sector, but far from the emoluments in the private sector and those practising in certain foreign countries. Financial motives alone cannot explain the reasons for emigration. It is therefore necessary to look for other reasons that may be strong motives in the emigration decision of Algerian doctors.

Keywords

• migration policies
• health
• migration