Purpose of the inquiry

For decades, higher income countries have benefited enormously from the skills and dedication of health professionals trained overseas. But this recruitment has also had consequences for many LMICs, where the loss of trained staff can weaken already fragile health systems.

This inquiry will look at the balance of those impacts - asking whether high-income countries have both a moral and practical responsibility to reinvest in the countries whose workers help keep global health systems running and what a fair and proportionate model of co-investment could look like in practice.

Call for evidence

The APPG welcomes evidence from stakeholders across the health, policy, academic and development sectors. Submissions can include research, data, case studies or lived experience that help illuminate both the benefits and challenges of international health workforce migration.

Submissions should respond to one or more of the following questions:

Guiding questions

1. What are the key financial benefits that the UK and other HICs have accrued from the international recruitment of health professionals over the past two decades? 

   • Are you aware of, or have you undertaken, any studies that you think the APPG should take note of when conducting its inquiry?

      

2. What are the key non-financial benefits that the UK and other HICs have accrued from the international recruitment of health professionals over the past two decades?
   • How has international recruitment impacted service delivery in the UK and other HICs, particularly in terms of workforce availability, patient outcomes, and system resilience? We welcome examples of reverse innovation, improvements in care quality, cultural competency, or system efficiencies attributed to migrant health workers.

   • What training-related benefits have the UK and other HICs countries gained from recruiting internationally educated health professionals? We welcome examples of how internationally recruited staff have contributed to workforce diversity, knowledge exchange, and the role of diaspora professionals in education, mentorship, and leadership.

      

3. What are the measurable impacts on source countries (LMICs) health systems associated with health workforce migration, including effects?
   • Please reflect on how these impact on education and training, service delivery and health outcomes. 

   • We also welcome insights into positive effects such as remittances, skills development, jobs creation, diaspora engagement, and circular migration.

      

4. The World Health Organization is using the term “proportionate co-investment” to describe a situation whereby the UK and other benefiting countries, give proportional benefits to low and middle-income “source countries” in return for the health workers they provide.
   • What could a proportionate level of investment look like in your view? 

   • Do you know of any mechanisms that work well that you would consider for proportionate co-investment?

      

Submission guidelines

Submissions should be around 1,500 words (2 - 3 pages) and may include references, data tables or annexes.

Please send your submission by 15 January 2026 to:

• margaret.caffrey@globalhealthpartnerships.org
• lorina.kagosha@globalhealthpartnerships.org
• jessica.fraser@globalhealthpartnerships.org.

Contributors are encouraged to include their name, organisation and role.

Your insights will help shape a fairer and more sustainable approach to global health workforce development. We thank you in advance for your contribution.

About the inquiry

This APPG on Global Health & Security inquiry is supported by Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) and the Centre for Global Development.

The APPG brings together parliamentarians and partners from across the global health community to explore how the UK can strengthen global health systems, promote equity and ensure that international collaboration benefits all.