Determinants for migration among medical, dental and allied health sciences students- Unveiling brain drain

Introduction/objective: “Brain drain” refers to the migration of healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries to higher-income countries. The study aims to understand the determinants influencing the migration of healthcare professionals, students' perceptions towards determinants of migration, to determine the proportion of students wanting to migrate and to associate socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants with the determinants responsible for professional migration. Methodology: A cross-sectional study among 196 medical, dental, and allied health students in Mangaluru used a validated questionnaire. Data were collected via Microsoft Forms and analyzed in SPSS v29.0, with chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Results: The study found that 75 % of participants considered migrating abroad, with 52.1 % planning to take international exams. While 43.3 % intended to migrate for education and training, 40 % aimed for long-term career development. Key factors influencing migration included financial remuneration (36.3 %) and poor working conditions in India (38.1 %). A significant association was observed between students with close family abroad and migration plans (p < 0.001), as well as those who actively discussed migration (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study highlights a strong inclination among medical, dental, and allied health students to migrate abroad, primarily for education, career growth, and better financial prospects. Poor working conditions and financial remuneration were key motivators. Close family abroad and discussions about migration significantly influenced migration decisions.