Are you thinking about your career prospect in your home country? Do you feel that having overseas exposure can be helpful for your career future? Do you know what are the pros and cons of relocation? In this article, we will explore the top 5 countries for aspiring international healthcare workers.
Healthcare sector is a fast growing industry, backed by demand from an ageing demographic in the developed economies around the world. WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that 15% of the global healthcare professionals work outside their home country. [1] However, it is crucial to consider the country that you wish to work in. Let’s examine these 5 countries whether you are curious or already have a relocation plan in mind.
1.United States of America
The US healthcare system comprises of both public and private organizations offering citizens medical care. It's a market-oriented system that depends heavily on employer-provided insurance, government-funded insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and individual funded healthcare insurance. [2]
Many foreign healthcare professionals are drawn to the US healthcare system for varied reasons. To help you evaluate, we have compiled a list of pros and cons in the respective countries:
Pros:
- High wages: US offers high salaries for healthcare professionals, compared to other countries. [3]
- Career future: Nurses and doctors can specialize in specific branch of medicine such as pediatrics, oncology, or cardiology. This can lead to higher salaries and more opportunities for advancement. [4]
- Technological advancement: The US healthcare system is known for using the latest technology, offering innovative treatments and procedures. This provides an excellent learning opportunity for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Cons:
- Complex licensing process: Obtaining a license to practice healthcare in the US can be complicated and time-consuming for foreign healthcare professionals. For example, doctors who want to enter the US system must take the USMLE, which can be expensive and tedious.[5]
- High cost of living: The cost of living can be very high in metropolitan areas where many healthcare jobs are located.
- Cultural differences: Adapting to the cultural differences in the US can be challenging for foreigners who are unfamiliar with the country's social norms and customs.
- Safety issues: Safety in the US depends on a few factors, including the city or state you live in, your personal lifestyle, and your level of risk tolerance. On the whole, US is a safe place to live, but there are some areas that are more dangerous than others. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the violent crime rate in USA was 397.3 per 100,000 people in 2020. This is higher than the violent crime rate in many other developed countries, but it is important to note that the UCR Program only includes data from law enforcement agencies, so it is possible that the actual crime rate is higher.[6]
2.Canada
The Canadian healthcare system is known for providing affordable, quality care to all citizens and permanent residents. One of the draw factors for foreign healthcare job seekers is the emphasis on holistic medicine, preventative maintenance, and ongoing education opportunities. [7]
These are the pros and cons of pursuing healthcare jobs in Canada:
Pros:
- Learning and Development: Healthcare professionals in Canada have access to ongoing education opportunities that can advance their practice and career.
- Multicultural work environment: Canada is a multi-ethnic country offering a diverse work environment, making it easy for foreigners to integrate.
- High standard of living: An improved quality of life can have a positive impact on people’s overall well-being and work performance.
- Well-developed social infrastructure: In situations such as retrenchment, disability, or illness, employees can benefit from social protections like unemployment benefits, disability insurance, and healthcare services.
- Safe and inclusive society
- Beautiful natural environment: Despite the cold winters, a beautiful natural setting offers people the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities.
Cons:
- Competitive job market: The job market in Canada is highly competitive, particularly in metropolitan area such as Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal.
- Regional funding discrepancies: Doctors may receive less funding in rural areas and those with higher catchment density than in the country's urban centers.
- Cost of living: It varies widely depending on the location, with cities being more expensive than smaller towns and rural areas. Cost of living in Canada is relatively high compared to other countries.
- Lengthy immigration process: The entire process can be expensive, tedious and time-consuming for foreigners. [8]
- Restrictions on the types of jobs: Employers need to obtain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before they can hire foreigners. The LMIA process can be lengthy and complex.
- Some people can’t tolerate the harsh winter and the inconvenience that comes with it.
3.United Kingdom
The National Health Service (NHS) is a publicly funded healthcare system in the UK, providing free medical care to all UK residents. Individual NHS trust oversee it and provide world-class medical training and education opportunities. The government funds the NHS through taxes and is one of the largest employers in the world, providing jobs to over 1.2 million people. The NHS emphasis on innovation and research, attracts healthcare professionals seeking to develop their skills and knowledge. [9]
Here are some pros and cons to consider when pursuing a healthcare career in the UK:
Pros:
- Career future: The UK's healthcare system offers excellent career opportunities with world-class medical training and education programs. For example, the NHS provides continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities for all staff at every level, including training programs, conferences, and seminars.
- Diverse patient population: Working in the UK's healthcare system provides exposure to a culturally and socially diverse patient population, which can enrich healthcare professionals' experiences.
- Research and innovation: The NHS emphasis on research and innovation, offering exposure to aspiring healthcare professionals. They can learn from the best practice which may not be available in their home country.
Cons:
- Staffing and resource constraints: The NHS has facing staffing and resource constraints for many years, leading to heavy workload for healthcare professionals and burnout.
- Brexit and immigration laws: Healthcare professionals from EU and other countries are likely to face more challenges during the Visa application process.
- Lack of job security: There is a risk of retrenchment in the future, as NHS budget has been under pressure for years.
4.Australia
The Australian healthcare system is a mix of public and private healthcare services, offering world-class medical training programs and exposure to a diverse patient population. The system provides free emergency care and subsidized services, with private facilities providing specialized services at a higher cost.[10]
Listed below are the pros and cons of pursuing a healthcare career in Australia:
Pros:
- Training and education: Australia offers world-class medical training and education programs. Professional qualifications in Australia tend to be internationally recognized.
- High salaries: The average salary for healthcare jobs in Australia is high, making it an attractive destination for foreign healthcare professionals.
- High demand for healthcare professionals: Australia has a high demand for healthcare professionals due to an aging population and growing population.
- Good Work Life Balance [11]
Cons:
- High cost of living: Australia is a relatively expensive country to live in, especially in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The cost of housing, food, and transportation can be high, so it's important to factor this into your decision to work in Australia.
- Racism issue: Australia has a history of racism, and there is still racial discrimination in the country. If you are a person of colour, you can experience racism in the workplace or in your personal life.
- Language and cultural barrier: It can be a challenge for international healthcare workers to integrate well into their workplace. [12]
5.Singapore
The Singapore healthcare system comprises of both public and private sectors, that provides affordable and high-quality medical care to citizens, permanent residents, and medical tourists. The Ministry of Health oversees the healthcare system and funds the public sector. Singapore places a strong emphasis on technological advancement and preventative care. [13]
Here are some pros and cons to consider when you are pursing healthcare jobs in Singapore.
Pros:
- Top-notch exposure: Singapore has a world-class healthcare system that is highly regarded globally, offering opportunities to work with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technology. The government invests heavily in the healthcare sector. [14]
- Diverse patient population: A diverse patient population allows healthcare professionals to improve their skills and broaden their horizons.
- Ongoing education and development: The CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Framework is a mandatory program for all healthcare professionals in Singapore. It requires healthcare professionals to complete a certain number of CPD points each year in order to maintain their registration with the MOH.
- Competitive salaries: The salaries for healthcare professionals in Singapore are relatively high compared to other Asian countries, making it attractive to foreign healthcare professionals.
- Singapore is a very safe country. Crime is fairly uncommon, and women can travel safely at night.
Cons:
- Getting a work permit can be a challenge.
- High cost of living: The cost of living in Singapore is very high. Housing cost have gone up exponentially over the past three years. The rental price of a 700 square feet apartment can easily cost USD 2300 per month or more.
- Heavy workload: Healthcare professionals tend to experience a heavy workload with long working hours. This often leads to increased stress level and burnout.
- Stringent regulatory requirements: Healthcare professionals must be licensed by professional regulatory bodies such as the Singapore Medical Council, which screens healthcare workers on their medicine knowledge and medicine ethics.
If you're a healthcare professional looking for overseas job opportunity or a job seeker contemplating a mid-career switch, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of each country carefully. Factors like patient population, training and development opportunity, relocation cost, salary, tax rate, cost of living, crime rate and cultural norms should all be considered.
Moreover it's essential to research the licensing and certification requirements for the healthcare sector in your prospective country. It's also a good idea to seek advice from experienced professionals in the field and consider participating in exchange programs to better understand a country's healthcare system before embarking on your career future in your chosen country.
Read next article: 5 In-Demand Healthcare Jobs in Singapore for Foreigners
References
- World Health Organization. (2022, May 22). A75/14: Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA75/A75_14-en.pdf
- Statista. (2023, March 8). Chart: The Average Salaries of Nurses. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/chart/29639/average-salaries-of-nurses-in-selected-oecd-countries/
- Chua, K. P. (2006). Overview of the US health care system. Sterling, Virginia: American Medical Student Association.
- https://www.statista.com/chart/29639/average-salaries-of-nurses-in-selected-oecd-countries/
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, June 7). Healthcare occupations. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm
- United States Medical Licensing Examination. (2023). United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Retrieved from https://www.usmle.org/
- NationMaster. (n.d.). Singapore vs United States Crime Stats Compared. Retrieved from https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Singapore/United-States/Crime
- Seenandan-Sookdeo, K. A. I. (2012). The influence of power in the Canadian healthcare system. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 26(2), 107-112.
- https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-canadas-immigration-policy#chapter-title-0-5
- Arora, A., Wright, A., Cheng, T.K.M., et al. (2021). Innovation Pathways in the NHS: An Introductory Review. Ther Innov Regul Sci, 55, 1045–1058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43441-021-00304-w
- Dixit, S. K., & Sambasivan, M. (2018). A review of the Australian healthcare system: A policy perspective. SAGE open medicine, 6, 2050312118769211.
- Business Insider. (2023, March 8). Work-Life Balance of US, France, Australia, UK, Compared. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/work-life-balance-of-us-france-uk-australia-compared-2023-3.
- Ylona De Guzman. (2022, August 25). International nurses struggling to fit in. Retrieved from https://www.jcu.edu.au/this-is-uni/health-and-medicine/articles/international-nurses-struggling-to-fit-in
- Bai, Y., Shi, C., Li, X., & Liu, F. (2012). Healthcare system in Singapore. USA: Columbia University.
- Ministry of Finance, Singapore. (2022, February 15). Budget 2022: Healthcare (PDF). Retrieved from https://www.mof.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/budget2022/download/pdf/35-moh-2022.pdf
- Channel NewsAsia. (2022, July 31). More than 25,000 nurses to get special payment of 1.7-2.1 months' salary: MOH. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moh-25000-nurses-2022-special-payment-package-retention-2848141