A Wasted Opportunity During a Pandemic: The Foreign Medical Graduates in the USA.
J Immigr Minor Health
; 23(6): 1364-1368, 2021 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1328642
ABSTRACT
In this brief note from the field, we address an essential issue of non-inclusion of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) practicing in the US into the healthcare disaster response in the current pandemic. Because FMGs represent a significant share of the entire country's physician workforce, it seems not prudent to ignore the need to address the current immigration barriers affecting the crucial healthcare needs during this pandemic. Being subjects of the ongoing complex bureaucracy complicated by recent anti-immigrant steps, FMGs that practice for years on temporary (H1B) visas cannot fully join COVID-19 forces. In addition, these physicians face multiple challenges related to their health protection, protection of their immediate family, job security, and the potential risk of being deported. We believe that physicians' immigration status should no longer be disregarded outside of academic interest. It carries the same importance as other public health issues, especially in severe healthcare crises like this pandemic.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Foreign Medical Graduates
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
J Immigr Minor Health
Journal subject:
Social Sciences
/
Public Health
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10903-021-01243-2
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