Exodus Imperils UK Health Service

A record number of doctors who trained overseas are leaving the United Kingdom, creating a potential staffing crisis for the National Health Service (NHS) and prompting urgent warnings from medical bodies. According to a workforce report published on Friday, 21 November 2025, by the General Medical Council (GMC), 4,880 doctors who qualified in another country left the UK in 2024. This represents a significant 26% increase from the 3,869 who departed in 2023.

The GMC, along with NHS leaders and the British Medical Association (BMA), has pointed to a growing hostility towards migrants as a key driver for the exodus. Charlie Massey, the chief executive of the GMC, warned that a "hardening of rhetoric" could undermine the UK's reputation as a desirable place for the world's top medical talent to work. This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Amit Kochhar, chair of the BMA's representative body, who noted that a "sustained campaign of anti-migrant rhetoric is leaving many doctors with a migrant background considering if it is worth staying." The BMA had previously, in October 2025, joined other trade unions in demanding an end to the "escalating use of hostile language" against people from overseas.

The NHS is heavily reliant on this international workforce, with doctors trained abroad constituting approximately 42% of the entire medical workforce. Daniel Elkeles, the chief executive of the hospital group NHS Providers, stated bluntly, “We wouldn’t have an NHS if we hadn’t for many years recruited talented and valued people from all around the world.” The departure of such a significant number of skilled professionals threatens to leave "huge holes" in the health service that it will struggle to fill, according to the GMC.

Implications for Kenya's Health Sector

This trend in the UK has direct relevance for Kenya, which has historically been a source country for medical professionals migrating to the UK and other developed nations. According to Ouma Oluga, former secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union, around 4,000 doctors and nurses leave Kenya annually. A 2023 report from Kenya's Ministry of Health indicated that up to 64.4% of health professionals had expressed a desire to emigrate for better career opportunities and working conditions.

The UK has been a significant destination. A bilateral agreement signed in July 2021 facilitates the migration of Kenyan nurses to the UK, with 280 having moved by April 2024. While specific, up-to-date figures for Kenyan doctors in the UK are not readily available, a 2023 initiative saw the launch of the Kenyan Doctors in the United Kingdom Association to help medical professionals transition into the NHS system, indicating a substantial community.

The exodus from the UK could present both challenges and opportunities for Kenya. A less welcoming environment in Britain might deter some Kenyan medics from leaving or encourage those already there to return, potentially bringing valuable skills and experience back to the Kenyan healthcare system. However, it could also divert migration to other countries, continuing the "brain drain" that strains Kenya's health infrastructure. Kenya already faces a critical shortage of health workers, with a physician density of 1.4 per 10,000 people, far below the WHO's recommended minimum of 21.7.

Underlying Causes and Future Outlook

Beyond the hostile rhetoric, other factors are contributing to the departures from the NHS. A GMC survey from April 2024 revealed that many doctors feel undervalued, lack opportunities for progression, and are disillusioned with the UK's healthcare systems. Poor pay relative to the cost of living is another major driver, with 79% of doctors considering leaving citing it as a primary reason.

The UK government's immigration policies have also created uncertainty, although recent changes to visa rules, such as increased salary thresholds, have largely exempted healthcare professionals on the Health and Care Visa. However, proposals from some political quarters to end indefinite leave to remain have caused significant anxiety among the international workforce. Simultaneously, the UK government has expressed a desire to reduce the NHS's dependence on overseas staff, aiming to cut the proportion of new international recruits from 34% to under 10% as part of a long-term plan.

The situation remains complex. While the number of international doctors leaving has surged, 20,060 new non-UK qualified doctors still joined the register in 2024, though this was only a slight increase from 2023 and the smallest rise since 2020. For Kenya, the developments in the UK serve as a critical reminder of the global competition for healthcare talent and the importance of creating a supportive and rewarding environment to retain its own medical professionals. The choices made by Kenyan doctors, whether in Nairobi, London, or elsewhere, will continue to shape the future of the nation's health services.