My part in the “brain drain” -- Amore 321 (7264): 841 -- bmj.com
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Home> Volume 321, Number 7264> BMJ 321 : 841 doi: 10.1136/bmj.321.7264.841 (Published 30 September 2000)
BMJ 321 : 841 doi: 10.1136/bmj.321.7264.841 (Published 30 September 2000)
Personal View Personal views
My part in the “brain drain” Luis Gabriel Cuervo Amore, clinical editor +
Author Affiliations
I am a Colombian family doctor and a clinical epidemiologist. Four months ago I left my country and migrated to the United Kingdom. This is my experience of what it is like to be part of the so called “brain drain” of doctors from developing countries to rich countries in the north. As a researcher in Colombia I was based in a private university and supported by one of the international clinical epidemiology network's units. My work was well valued and as a group we were able to sort out many of the difficulties that researchers have to solve, such as finding funding while the American government imposed sanctions as part of its drug fighting policies. We were able to get grants and produced good quality research. We were encouraged to develop evidence based medicine, research, and clinical epidemiology training in the medical school. My memories of those six years are happy ones. Until last year I never thought of leaving Colombia, because I felt that trained people should remain in our country to help solve its complex problems.
We are sure we made the right decision every time we look at the news
Students protesting against increasing violence
But things changed for me. While we were expecting our first child, violence was bursting out in the country between different guerrilla factions and paramilitary groups. Civilians were being caught up in this violence and the peace process initiated two years ago was not taken seriously by the guerrilla groups. Over the past decade justice and peace turned into an illusion for many ordinary people. Corruption was everywhere and affected daily activities to a great extent. Extortion and kidnappings became common. There was a feeling that living was much harder for those who obeyed the law and that impunity favoured criminals. Most of our uncorrupt political leaders were murdered and for many Colombians the word politician is now a synonym for corruption and abuse. We were not happy at the prospect of bringing up our baby in such an environment. The final factor that determined us leaving was the incapacity of the university, probably because of the economic crisis, to keep me on a full time basis in research. Although I had been successful in getting involved in trials and finding grants I was
http://www.bmj.com/content/321/7264/841.1.full?sid=12f35c0d-c28f-40d1-9ab8-82ad6efb... 6/16/2011