- Find out which countries provide the most lucrative opportunities for healthcare and medical professionals.
- Discover the salaries being offered in healthcare jobs.
- Shortages of healthcare providers in certain countries can mean a strong possibility of making a pretty penny there.
Are you a healthcare practitioner looking for a change from your current job? Or maybe you’re just dreaming about a big salary? Whatever the case, you’ve come to the right place. Your skills are always in demand as a healthcare worker because they’re essential to the public’s livelihood and well-being.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the countries with the best healthcare in the world to work in as a medical professional (primarily focusing on general physicians and medical specialists), ranked in no particular order. Let’s dig in.
Countries with the Best Healthcare
Healthcare is like a big system that helps people stay healthy and takes care of their bodies and minds. It includes things like going to the doctor when we’re sick, getting medicine to feel better, and going to the hospital when we need more help.
For the healthcare system to work well, we must ensure it has enough money. That way, doctors and nurses can get paid fairly for their important work. We also need to have enough hospitals and clinics that are clean and in good shape. And it’s important to have good information to make smart decisions about our health.
While healthcare can be expensive, there are countries with the best healthcare that give optimal healthcare value, uses the best healthcare apps, and has the best environment for healthcare jobs. Let’s explore some of them below.
United Kingdom
The U.K. has always been a sought-after destination as the best country to work as a doctor. The NHS, the U. K’s excellent publicly funded healthcare system, has a wide-open network of available positions that need filling.
Currently, the NHS has approximately 110,192 vacancies, with a pressing need for skilled professionals. Regarding pay, expect a figure of £62,268 to £93,965 per year for a general practitioner and £80,693 to £91,584 for specialists.
As a country with the best healthcare, you may also want to consider the other perks, including but not limited to:
- Discounts and blue light card
- NHS Pension scheme
- Childcare support
- Housing
- Bursaries
We also have here the best countries for healthcare workers to achieve the best work-life balance. Make sure to check it out.
New Zealand
Known for its supreme beauty and as the location where both The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit were filmed, New Zealand offers an outstanding work-life balance and ideal working conditions.
If you’re wondering about compensation, you’ll be looking at making approximately $42,000 to $65,000 for general practitioners and up to $138,261 for specialists, depending on your experience and role.
In recent years, New Zealand has invested heavily in rural healthcare, aiming to bridge healthcare access gaps and attract more doctors to underserved areas .
Australia
As Australia is affectionately referred to, the land down underpays its doctors pretty generously plus supports their education.Specialists earn a jaw-dropping $247,000 per year, while general practitioners earn around $91,000.
A survey by the British Medical Association found that 42% of British doctors prefer migrating to Australia for improved work-life balance and attractive salaries.
Republic Of Ireland
In Ireland, specialists earn an average of $143,000 per year, while general practitioners earn around $90,000. Depending on the type and level of specialist, doctors can charge between $200 and $300 for a 15- to 20-minute consultation, making healthcare jobs in Ireland both profitable and prestigious.
If you think you may enjoy the cool, rainy weather, some of the finest crafted beers known to man, and a fat paycheque, head here!
Canada
Canada faces a significant doctor shortage because of the ongoing doctor migration to the United States and the subsequent brain drain. Despite the challenges, Doctors in Canada earn higher wages than their counterparts in other countries.
Specialists earn around $161,000 per year, while general practitioners earn around $107,000.
The Canadian Medical Association has projected a physician shortage of 44,000 by 2028, which presents a huge opportunity for new healthcare professionals seeking stability and high wages.
Benefits for doctors in Canada include malpractice insurance, sick leave, study leave, vacation, and maternity/paternity leave.
In fact, Canada is also one of the best countries in which to practice medicine. Here are some of the countries you should check out.
Switzerland
Medical experts earn a remarkable $130,000 annually, while general practitioners earn around $116,000 per year. Switzerland ranks first in the European Healthcare Consumer Index and is known for short waiting times and cutting-edge medical technology.
A small caveat: understanding various languages, like French, Italian, and German, is essential for working in Switzerland.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is an absolute dream destination for physicians. They not only pay highly for their healthcare workers, but they also give excellent working conditions with solutions to barriers to communication in the healthcare workplace as well as ample vacation time.
They also provide their residents with a world-class healthcare system. In fact, this is one of the ranked countries in Europe to have the best healthcare.
Every household in the Netherlands has a personal doctor, reflecting its commitment to primary healthcare. Specialists earn around $253,000 annually, whereas general practitioners earn approximately $117,000 annually.
Wrapping Up
As you’ve learned, there are quite a few countries with the best healthcare to emigrate to if you’re looking for a change. Globally, healthcare jobs are projected to grow significantly due to a 4.3 million healthcare worker shortage by 2030, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Considering these promising trends, moving to a new country may offer lucrative pay, work-life balance, and strong demand for healthcare services.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and found it helpful. If you like it, please leave a comment below to answer the question, “Which country, in your opinion, is best for healthcare worker jobs?”