Insider Monkey

20 Best Countries for Doctors to Immigrate to

Khadija Shafaat Khan
9 min read

In This Article:

In this article, we will list and explore the 20 best countries for doctors to immigrate to. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to our list of 5 Best Countries for Doctors to Immigrate to.

For many medical professionals, the United States has historically been an attractive destination due to its renowned healthcare infrastructure and opportunities. The US stands as one of the top countries paying high wages to doctors.

Challenges in the US Healthcare System

America has one of the highest healthcare expenditures globally, creating a pressing need to curtail these costs. According to CMS.gov, in 2021, healthcare expenditure in the United States escalated by 2.7%, totaling $4.3 trillion, which equates to $12,914 per individual. This accounts for 18.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product.

Becoming a doctor in the US involves substantial expenses, with individuals often facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans. In February 2022, Forbes reported that the expenses associated with attending medical school can be equivalent to the price of a house. Data provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) indicated that the median four-year cost of attendance for the Class of 2020 fell between $255,000 to $337,000. The considerable expense of medical education has resulted in 84% of students graduating with debts surpassing $100,000, according to reports by the AAMC.

According to the AAMC’s June 2020 report, the United States is projected to face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033. While importing doctors from other countries might seem like a solution to alleviate the physician shortage, it poses challenges. Importing foreign doctors could potentially disrupt domestic academic institutions and impact doctors who have invested significant financial resources and time in their education. The Education Data Initiative notes that aspiring physicians invest around eight years in postsecondary education, encompassing medical school and undergraduate studies, before qualifying as doctors. Graduates of medical school, including pre-medical expenses, typically face a median educational debt of $215,100.

Among indebted medical school graduates receiving over $100,000 in scholarships, those attending public institutions owe a median of $115,000, while private medical school attendees owe a median of $130,000. Over slightly more than 15 years, there has been a significant 156% increase in average debt, with a nearly doubled expense when adjusted for inflation—marking a 372% surge in medical school costs. Notably, medical school debt shows an annual growth rate of 12.4%, while the cost of medical education increases at a rate of 2.5% annually. Projections suggest that if the current pattern persists, the average medical student debt could surpass $300,000 by 2024, outpacing the rate of increase in the cost of attendance.

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