Kerala is leading India’s migration of healthcare talent to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where demand grew 3.3 times by 2023, a report said.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh emerged as the leading states contributing to the migration of healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors and laboratory technicians, to MENA countries, according to data from worker platform Huntr.
In particular, the migration of healthcare workers from Kerala witnessed a notable increase in migration to the UAE, with a 3.3-fold increase by 2023, the report said.
The report is based on data from the Huntr platform and employer organizations in the Middle East from 2022 and 2023.
It further noted that UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the most preferred destinations for Indian healthcare professionals looking for employment.
These countries offer attractive incentives, including extended stay visas, financial benefits and state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure, the report said.
“Rapid globalization has opened doors to expanded global mobility, and this report is a testament to the critical role India plays in meeting the rising demand for talent in the MENA countries.
The surge in migration from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh reflects a significant shift in the healthcare landscape in the region. With Huntr’s innovative solutions and collaboration with stakeholders, we are ready to drive further growth and development in the MENA healthcare sector,” said Samuel Joy, CEO of Huntr.
The report further found that employers in MENA countries are seeking candidates with specific skills and qualifications, including experience in regional sales, distributor management and project management.
In addition, there is also a high demand for healthcare professionals with qualifications ranging from diplomas to advanced degrees in nursing and medicine.
Healthcare workers migrating from India to the MENA region are predominantly in the early 30s age group, with a noticeable increase in the number of male nurses joining the workforce segment traditionally dominated by women, the report said.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: February 24, 2024 | 5:02 PM IST