This desk review of the medical (or health) diaspora originating from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region was conducted jointly by the World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO/EMRO) and the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) MENA Regional Office, both in Cairo.

The review starts with a brief overview of the (out)migration of health professionals from their home countries, pointing out the potential to engage these health professionals as members of diaspora communities. It then gives a rundown of government institutions and international organizations dealing with diaspora engagement – both in countries of origin and countries of destination – before enumerating examples of how health professionals have been engaged in MENA and other regions.

The report ends with a brief analysis of how COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation in the MENA region and the even more urgent need to engage with health professionals in the diaspora to meet the needs of overstretched public health systems on the ground.