Doctors And Nurses In Hongkong On Migrating To Australia Britain And Canada

24 Feb 2018

The medical professionals in Hong Kong are opting for a life overseas. In 2017, 24,300 people left the city.

It will result in a manpower shortage, in the public hospitals. Doctors and nurses are migrating in great numbers because it is easy for them to gain citizenship abroad and there is a global shortage of medical staff.

Australia, Britain, and Canada are preferred destinations for them. Hong Kong has long working hours, and the living environment is congested. There is a feeling that the government in Hong Kong must focus on retaining talent or face the shortage of labor. Moreover, there is an urgent for them as there is a rapidly aging society.

One of the reasons for the departure of nurses is the heavy workload added with long hours and working in overburdened public hospitals. 

Facilities in Public hospitals are stretched owing to a surge in disease outbreaks. They have tough conditions. There is a shortage of 300 doctors and 200 nurses at present. The nurses complain about skipping meals and toilet breaks for getting their work done.  The wait at emergency departments extends to eight hours, and people are worried.

The emigrant numbers for last year were 24,300 which was higher than 6,100 of 2016. In 2015 Hong Kong saw an inflow of 5,500 coming to settle. The figures for 2014 were 15,700 and 17,900 for 2013. 

Canada has shown that 1,210 Hong Kong nationals became PRs of the country in 2016.  Emigrants are highly skilled professionals and receive top training. Their prime working years were between 30 and 40 years. The government of Hong Kong must find a remedy for the shrinking workforce and medical care to the aging population.