Paper short abstract:

With many British healthcare professionals working in the field of Global Health, it becomes increasingly important to explore their motivations. By combining narratives and reflection from healthcare professionals and the author, this paper aims to further our understanding of this complex concept.

Paper long abstract:

From missionary work to humanitarianism and 'voluntourism', there is a long, evolving history of British healthcare professionals working in the field of what is presently called Global Health. A wealth of literature has described this work as romanticising the exotic, perpetuating stereotypes and neo-colonial but an increasing number of opportunities to work abroad are presented to British workers.

Alongside these broader ethical and philosophical arguments, there is a need for a pragmatic understanding of this work. Exploring the motivations of healthcare professionals who elect to work in a resource-poor setting may enable us to greater understand how to optimise the impact of these complex interactions. What are these motivations? How does one's perceptions of global health and the developing context impact these? What can we learn from beliefs concerning the concept of altruism? Can a greater understanding of motivation inform employees in the decision to recruit international workers? And how can anthropology inform this process?

Drawing on personal experience working as a medical student and junior doctor in Uganda and Papua New Guinea, this paper will combine narratives from British healthcare professionals with personal reflections, aiming to stimulate considerable thought and discussion on this complex concept.