Repayment of educational loans was another factor, she said.

Concurring, Sarmma Thomas, head of nursing at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, said repayment of educational loans was a huge issue.

"These girls come from poor families and most of them take loans to fund their education. So they have to work abroad to repay it," she said.

She also said that many want to support their families, especially old parents.

A recent study on the nursing brain drain in India says that up to one-fifth of the nursing labour force may be lost to wealthier states due to migration.

As long as striking global disparities in nursing incomes persist, it will be difficult to stem the haemorrhage of nurses migrating - albeit temporarily - in pursuit of better pay, the study said.

Said Preeti Trikha, a nurse at Paras Hospital, Gurgaon: "Though in India the working conditions are fine, the salary is too low."

However, things have improved over the years. Nowadays, private hospitals are paying more, she told

"But I feel nursing is a dedicated profession and only people who have the courage and ability to work for long should take it up," Trikha said.
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