Nurses: At Home and Abroad

Why Indian nurses, especially from Kerala, migrate to the Gulf, UK and US for higher pay, the low wages in private hospitals at home, and the effects of nurse migration.

Nurses are vital but often underpaid.

Low pay at home

Many private hospital nurses earn low salaries; the Supreme Court and governments have pushed for better pay.

Migration

Indian nurses, especially from Kerala, work in the Gulf, UK, US, Australia and Canada.
Pay abroad can be many times higher.

Recruitment

UK’s NHS actively recruited Indian nurses.

Brain drain

Migration causes shortages at home but brings remittances.

Training

Many nursing colleges are private, with high fees.

Gender

Nursing is a mostly female profession.

The UK move

A nurse from Kottayam passes an English test and joins an NHS hospital, earning far more than at home.

Thinking nurse migration only hurts India

It brings remittances too.

Key takeaways

Many Indian nurses are underpaid.
Kerala nurses migrate widely.
The NHS recruits Indian nurses.
Migration creates shortages and remittances.