There is an increasing trend of international migration of health professionals from low -and middle- income countries to high-income countries as well as across middle- income countries. The WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel was created better address health workforce development and the ethical coduct of international recruitment. This study assessed policies and practices in 4 countries in South East Asia on managing the in -and out- migration of doctors and nurses to see whether the managementet has been in line with the WHO Global Code and has fostered health workforce development in the region; and draws lessons from these countries.