Health : Opportunities abroad

What are my chances of getting a job overseas?

The health sector offers numerous opportunities for professionals to work overseas. There are various government and independent global health strategies, including the United Nations Millennium Development Goals , which aim to address the health needs of the poorest countries using the external expertise of richer countries.

If you are interested in working abroad, it is important to know the specific requirements of the countries you would like to work in. The flow of vacancies is often determined by specific labour market shortages and government agendas, which are subject to change.

It is important to check details and plan very thoroughly. Contact foreign embassies of the country of interest to find out exact immigration requirements and visit the websites of relevant professional bodies and institutions for more details on working abroad.

Will my qualifications be recognised?

You may find that you can only enter certain occupations by satisfying local licensing arrangements or taking further examinations in that country. The procedures involved in securing accreditation can vary between countries, and even from region to region within each country.

As some alternative/complementary therapies are not fully accepted in certain countries, practitioners may find that their qualifications are less transferable than those of other health care workers. Check with relevant professional bodies for more information.

Where are the opportunities?

• Voluntary organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and the British Red Cross employ a wide range of health care professionals. Most of the vacancies in Africa or South America will be with voluntary organisations.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations and has fixed-term and temporary appointments for experienced medical officers, epidemiologists, public health specialists, environmental health specialists, health scientists, statisticians, health economists and policy analysts.
• Private healthcare companies with operations abroad also have vacancies for qualified staff.