Reasons for the withdrawal of foreign specialist doctors from public health facilities in the islands of Maldives

Abstract

Maldives is facing the problem of local human resource problem and currently the lack of medical specialist shortage crisis reached epidemic level. This cross sectional study aims to probe the reasons for withdrawing specialist doctors to work in the islands of Maldives. The subjects for this study were all specialist foreign doctors who work at the public health facilities of all islands of Maldives excluding the capital male’ city. A total (n= 14, 28.57%) subjects were (11 males, 3 females) participated voluntarily in this study. Even though there was good association between salary and the problem, insecure working environment was found to be the main cause of the problem from this study. This study also reveals that there were other contributing factors that needed to be probed including poor transportation system and lack of internet and other technologies in the islands.