title: Lost investment returns from the migration of medical doctors from Malawi.
abstract: Migration of medical doctors from African countries to developed nations compromises the delivery of health care on the continent. The full cost of producing a medical doctor was estimated in Malawi by adding the costs of education from primary school through undergraduate medical education. The cost in fees for one medical doctor produced was US$ 56,946.79. The amount of lost investment returns for a doctor who migrated out and served for 30 years in the receiving country ranged from about US$ 433,493 to US$46 million at interest rates 7% and 25%, respectively. Quantitative assessments of the estimated loss in investment allows for informed policy discussions and decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. muula@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Muula
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panulo
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000191:economics*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007449:Investments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008295:Malawi; D017059:Models, Econometric; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000191:economics; D014146:Training Support / Q000191:economics*