Organizational determinants of turnover intention among Public Sector Physicians in Morocco: Proposal for a Research Model

Abstract

This article highlights the worrying phenomenon of the mass exodus of Moroccan public sector physicians, who leave their positions either to join the private sector or to emigrate abroad, thereby exacerbating the shortage of medical professionals and hindering the smooth functioning of public healthcare services. Our objective is to propose a theoretical model that identifies the factors most likely to influence the turnover intention and conceptually examines the mediating role of organizational commitment in this relationship. To this end, we mobilize the social exchange theory, the organizational commitment model, and the theory of planned behavior to build our theoretical framework on the antecedents of turnover intention and, consequently, voluntary turnover behavior among public sector physicians. Ultimately, we aim to provide a theoretical reference for future studies and contribute to the reflection on mechanisms that may curb the drain of physicians from this crucial sector for public health in Morocco and across the globe.