Rabat – Morocco and Algeria both share the difficult issue of a “brain drain” among its medically trained graduates, yet both countries are proposing wildly different measures.
The problem of highly educated citizens leaving North Africa to work in the more affluent global north has unquestionably undermined the development of the Maghreb. Motivated young graduates leave their country to apply their trade in countries that offer better pay and working conditions.
In order to reduce this unfortunate phenomenon, Morocco and Algeria are considering measures to stop their talented youth from seeking employment abroad. While Morocco is attempting to introduce varying incentives for medically trained graduates, an Algerian senator is proposing a more authoritarian approach to the problem.
Algerian Senator Abdelouaheb Benzaim this week proposed to outright ban medically trained Algerians from leaving their country.
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In a post on social media platform Facebook, Benzaim suggested Algeria “prohibits the departure” of doctors as a “question of national health security.” While Benzaim proposes a variety of incentives to accompany the ban, his comments sparked debate around how to solve this lingering issue that plagues the region.
In Morocco, meanwhile, the government has proposed to lighten the requirements on medical students, by reducing the length of medical training, from seven down to six years. As part of its New Development Model, Morocco is boosting admissions to medical education, raising wages and finding ways to entice its medically-trained diaspora members to settle in Morocco.
While diplomatic tensions continue to linger between Algeria and Morocco, the issue of a brain drain, especially in the medical field, remains a shared challenge in both Maghreb countries. As the two neighbors try new approaches to retain their talent, the demand for medically trained immigrants in Europe increases every year.
With Europe in dire need of two million medical workers, Algeria and Morocco face a tough challenge in retaining local talent to support and develop better healthcare at home.
Read also: Morocco To Reduce Medical Training Requirement to 6 Years
