International migration of doctors from developing countries: need to follow the Commonwealth Code

There is an ongoing debate on the migration of doctors, especially psychiatrists, from developing countries. It is argued that these countries, which are already running short of psychiatrists, will further be jeopardized and their health systems will collapse if this migration and subsequent recruitment continue. In this paper the author presents a personal view of the ethics and human rights of this matter. He emphasises the importance of migration of doctors in view of the current situation in developing countries and advises that the Commonwealth Code be followed to address the problem of the shortage of psychiatrists in developing countries and psychiatrists' basic right to avail themselves of the opportunities in the developed world.