International migration has become an important feature of globalized labour markets in health care. The impact of international migration is very complex both for health workers and for the countries involved. There has been concern about international migration in health services for some years now, but recently the situation has become more acute for several reasons, mostly reflected in severe staff and skill shortages in the health systems of many countries.

The ILO Sectoral Working Paper, International migration of health workers: Labour and social issues provides an overview of existing information on migration of health workers with an emphasis on related labour and social issues, considering migration policies and practices, working conditions and the role of international standards and trade agreements.