Migration of medical doctors from African countries to developed nations compromises the delivery of health
care on the continent. The full cost of producing a medical doctor was estimated in Malawi by adding the costs of
education from primary school through undergraduate medical education. The cost in fees for one medical doctor produced
was US$ 56,946.79. The amount of lost investment returns for a doctor who migrated out and served for 30 years in the
receiving country ranged from about US$ 433,493 to US$46 million at interest rates 7% and 25%, respectively. Quantitative
assessments of the estimated loss in investment allows for informed policy discussions and decisions..

Keywords: brain drain, Malawi, medical training, medical education, migration

Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 9 (1) 2007: pp. 61-64