Doctors are leaving South Africa for Ireland

Many South African doctors are leaving for Ireland because of safety and security, better opportunities, and superior training pathways.

Graham Cosgrave, the director of medical recruitment at MatchMedics, shared this information during a discussion on The Relocated South African podcast.

Cosgrave specialises in recruiting international doctors, with a significant focus on moving South African doctors to Ireland.

He explained that Ireland is an attractive destination for South African doctors, as local medical degrees are recognised there.

This means doctors who are qualified in South Africa often don’t have to sit for pre-entry exams to work in Ireland, making it one of the easiest systems for them to enter.

“Ireland is by far the easiest system to enter of all Western English-speaking countries for South African doctors,” he said.

The main reason doctors are leaving South Africa is crime. Ireland offers them the freedom to go for runs or walks without constant fear for their safety.

“Many South Africans moving here find the safety in Ireland to be on a different level. People can happily walk where they wish here,” Cosgrave said.

“The safety Ireland offers has been a big drawcard for doctors we have dealt with, particularly from South Africa.”

Another drawcard is the greater accessibility of training pathways in Ireland compared to South Africa, where such opportunities have become more restricted.

He said South African doctors are highly favoured by Irish consultants because they are used to working in resource-poor environments.

When they arrive in Ireland’s resource-rich system, they tend to settle in quickly and work efficiently without complaining.

Many doctors who initially move to Ireland for short-term financial gains or a two-year trial end up staying long-term.

“They often become business owners, buy property, and put their children through the Irish school system,” Cosgrave said.

Other countries are also recruiting South African doctors

It is not only Ireland that is recruiting local doctors. Canada, the United Kingdom, and others have established dedicated pathways to attract South African doctors.

South Africa’s high-quality medical training and the strong work ethic of local medical professionals are highly valued internationally.

With many local healthcare workers facing unemployment challenges, moving to Canada, Australia, or the United States is attractive.

These countries offer significantly better job security, growth opportunities, and general safety than South Africa.

Emigration experts have flagged a rise in healthcare professionals looking to emigrate for job opportunities.

“One in four emails we get is always from a healthcare professional wanting to emigrate,” said Beaver Immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis.

Canada, which faces shortages of 60,000 nurses and 10,000 family doctors, has become an appealing emigration destination for South African healthcare workers.

By 2024, Canada had authorised over 7,781 temporary work permits for South Africans, of which 600 were for healthcare professionals.

“Those demand/supply numbers are going to continue to increase in 2026, even though Canada is tightening up its doors to immigration,” said Avramis.

125,000 healthcare professionals had resigned in South Africa over the previous decade, highlighting a crisis within the system.

The Department of Health has revealed that from 2013 to 2025, South Africa lost 12,745 doctors, 58,897 nurses, and 1,341 pharmacists.

South African Medical Association vice chairperson Dr Zanele Bikitsha said nearly 6,000 doctors and nurses resign from government hospitals each year.

Bikitsha said that, despite popular belief, the resignations are not due to an unwillingness to work, but rather due to a lack of positions available in the public sector.