Indians lead in US immigrant medical workforce

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Recent data from Remitly’s ‘Immigrant Healthcare Index’ has highlighted the significant contribution of Indian healthcare professionals to the United States medical system.

The report, which analyzed data from the Migration Policy Institute and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, reveals that India has emerged as the leading source country for immigrant physicians and surgeons in the US, ranking second in providing registered nurses.

Key findings from the report show that of the 987,000 doctors working in the US, approximately 262,000 (26.5%) are immigrants. Indian doctors constitute the largest group, with 59,000 physicians, representing 22% of all immigrant doctors. China and Hong Kong follow with 16,000 doctors (6%), and Pakistan with 13,000 (5%). Top destination states for Indian doctors include New Jersey, Florida, and New York.

In the nursing sector, out of 3.417 million actively employed registered nurses, about 546,000 (16%) are immigrants. The Philippines leads with 141,000 nurses (26% of immigrant nurses), while India ranks second with 32,000 nurses (6% of the immigrant nurse workforce), followed by Nigeria with 24,000 nurses (5%). California, Nevada, and New Jersey are the top destinations for immigrant nurses.

Looking at the overall healthcare workforce, immigrants constitute 18% (2.7 million) of the US healthcare workforce. The Philippines leads with 348,000 healthcare workers (13% of immigrant healthcare professionals), followed by Mexico with 271,000 (10%), and India ranks third with 176,000-180,000 healthcare workers (7%).

The data underscores the crucial role immigrants play in the US healthcare system, filling essential positions across various states and contributing significantly to the quality of care provided. Indian healthcare professionals, in particular, stand out for their substantial numbers in physician and nursing roles.

Ollie Cassel, Head of Growth Marketing at Remitly, emphasized the importance of immigrant healthcare workers, stating, “We’re endlessly thankful to healthcare professionals for their efforts, so we wanted to draw attention to the incredible work that immigrants do to contribute to the healthcare system.”

This trend not only highlights the global nature of the healthcare workforce but also underscores the importance of immigration in addressing critical workforce gaps in the US healthcare system. As the demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow, the contribution of immigrant workers, particularly from countries like India, the Philippines, and Mexico, remains crucial to maintaining and improving healthcare services in the United States.