• Although the demand for healthcare workers rose due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of foreign-trained doctors and nurses migrating to many OECD countries has either fallen or stagnated in 2020. This may partly reflect travel bans.

• Countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic saw a reverse migration, as doctors that had previously left for the UK and elsewhere returned home during the pandemic. The number of foreign-trained doctors also rose.

• The stock of domestic trained doctors in Italy increased in 2020, after the government abolished a requirement that doctors undertake post-graduate training.

• The UK saw inflows of doctors slow sharply as Brexit came into full effect, in line with our forecasts. Despite a plea for retired medics to return to work during the pandemic, the stock of doctors did not rise significantly. However, the numbers in training have risen.

• As the travel restrictions ease and visa regulations for healthcare workers are relaxed, we expect healthcare migration to increase in 2021-25. However, developing countries are stepping up their efforts to prevent medical brain-drain from weakening their healthcare systems further.

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