With healthcare systems worldwide facing a critical shortage of skilled professionals, innovative workforce solutions are more urgent than ever. Avinav Nigam, Founder and CEO of TERN Group, in an exclusive conversation with Dr. Asawari Savant, of Elets News Network (ENN), sheds light on how technology, empathy, and global collaboration are reshaping healthcare mobility to address this crisis. Edited excerpts 

In what ways is TERN Group impacting the global healthcare market?

The world is facing a serious healthcare crisis—not because of a lack of infrastructure, but because there simply aren’t enough skilled professionals to meet the growing demand. Hospitals and health systems everywhere are under pressure, especially in Europe. The World Health Organisation warns that the EU alone could face a shortage of nearly 4 million healthcare workers by 2030. That’s a staggering number, with real consequences for patients and providers alike.

That’s where TERN Group comes in. We’re not just matching people to jobs—we’re transforming the way healthcare talent moves across borders. Our AI-powered platform helps skilled professionals like doctors, nurses, and allied health workers find opportunities in regions that need them most, from the UK and Germany to the Middle East and even the US.

But we know that moving countries is a big deal. That’s why we offer more than just job placements. We guide our candidates every step of the way—with language training, visa processing, and relocation support—all at no cost to them. It’s about making the process smoother, more ethical, and truly supportive.

With strong partnerships across 80+ healthcare organisations in Germany, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and 18+ NHS Trusts in the UK, we’re not just filling vacancies—we’re building a global community of healthcare professionals. Today, we’re proud to support a network of over 650,000 individuals who are helping shape the future of care, one placement at a time.

Are there any impact numbers or employee statistics you could share?

The demand for qualified healthcare professionals is outpacing supply in almost every major region, creating gaps that strain systems and delay care. Through our presence in 11 countries—including India, Germany, the UK, the UAE, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Japan, and Ukraine—we are focused on solving this challenge.

With a network of four offices and a core team of over 100 employees built in just 11 months, we’ve successfully placed over 500 healthcare professionals into critical roles across the UK, Germany, the Middle East, and the US. These include high-impact specialities such as emergency medicine, ICU, and neuro-rehabilitation. Our success rate from interviews to offers is close to 88%, compared to an industry average of around 40%.

Our services go far beyond recruitment. We also train candidates in-house to ensure they meet all requirements, including language proficiency, before relocation. For example, our German language training programme prepares candidates up to the B1 level, with exam pass rates of 80–85%, well above the industry average of 45–50%. This training not only improves language skills but also enhances job readiness and long-term retention.

What are some new initiatives or innovations the company is currently working on?

At TERN, innovation is more than a buzzword—it powers every step of our candidate journey. Our proprietary platform, built entirely in-house, continues to evolve with cutting-edge tools designed to make global recruitment smarter, faster, and more human.

One of our latest initiatives is an AI-powered screening tool that simulates a real interview environment. Designed by our team, this tool tailors questions based on each candidate’s responses, allowing for deeper insights and a more personalised experience. It helps assess skills more effectively, ensures consistency in evaluations, and reduces time-to-hire—all while helping candidates feel more prepared and confident.

We’re also leveraging technology to simplify profile verification, background checks, and document validation, making the entire process seamless and secure.

But we know that great technology only works when paired with empathy. That’s why, alongside our digital innovations, we launched the TERN Talent Tour—a unique hiring sprint that goes beyond the traditional interview process. During our recent tour in Germany, over 100 qualified nurses took part in fast-tracked interviews and received on-the-spot offers. We didn’t just get them into jobs—we ensured they felt supported every step of the way.

TERN covered everything: visa processing, flights, accommodation, and on-ground logistics. What made it truly special was the cultural day out we organised, giving candidates a feel for their new home, helping them connect with peers, and making them feel seen and celebrated—even before they began their roles.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding these innovations further. We’re using our proprietary AI for real-time skill validation and placement forecasting to improve matching precision. We’re also venturing into new sectors like manufacturing, construction, and logistics, proving that our adaptable model works well beyond healthcare.

At TERN, we’re not just building technology—we’re building trust, opportunity, and a better experience for every person who chooses to take this journey with us.

What gaps in the healthcare sector led to the formation of TERN Group?

TERN was born from a realisation: global healthcare doesn’t just face a staffing crisis—it faces a system design problem.

Everywhere we looked, in hospitals across Germany, the UK, Japan, the Gulf, and the US, we saw the same pattern: critical roles going unfilled, and health systems under pressure. At the same time, in countries like India, South Africa, the Philippines, and Morocco, thousands of skilled nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals were ready to step in. But they were stuck—not for lack of talent, but for lack of trust, structure, and support.

Migration pathways were unclear, intermediaries were often unreliable, candidates faced high costs and broken promises, and employers struggled with slow, expensive, and manual hiring systems with little visibility or continuity.

We didn’t start TERN to fix recruitment. We started it to fix a system that was failing both people and healthcare. We built an AI-powered platform that simplifies and supports every step of the journey—from job matching and credentialing to language training, visa processing, relocation, and post-arrival integration. We removed hidden costs, reduced hiring time, and built a model that works for people, not just around them.

For employers, we’ve streamlined a historically slow and expensive process. Our platform reduces time-to-hire, lowers cost-per-hire, and improves retention through better-fit candidates and full lifecycle support.

We offer healthcare workers something rare: a system that puts them first. From zero fees and transparent processes to real human guidance and support that continues well after arrival, we take care of healthcare professionals in every aspect—from housing and banking to local orientation and career progression.

Because at the heart of healthcare are people who care. And they deserve systems that care back. TERN is more than a recruiter—it’s a workforce mobility partner grounded in ethics, transparency, and empathy. We’re not just helping people move countries. We’re helping them build better lives—and in doing so, we’re strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.

Also Read :- Blending Tradition with Technology: SBL’s Vision for Integrative Healthcare in India

What are some of the emerging trends in the healthcare industry that you are closely observing?

At TERN, we’re not just tracking trends—we’re living them alongside the people we serve.

One of the most important shifts we’re seeing is the growing need for language fluency and cultural integration. For healthcare professionals, moving across borders is not just about having the right qualifications—it’s also about connecting with patients and teams in new environments. That’s why we invest deeply in preparing our candidates to thrive, not just work, in the places they go.

We’re also witnessing how AI is reshaping recruitment—and we’re using it to make smarter, faster, and fairer decisions. Our platform helps candidates and healthcare providers find the right fit more efficiently. But we never lose sight of the human at the centre of it all. Because in healthcare, empathy and intuition can’t be replaced by algorithms—they can only be supported by them.

Another challenge we’re focused on is the widening gap between the demand and supply of healthcare talent globally. Countries like India are home to thousands of incredible professionals ready to serve—all they need is a clear, trusted pathway. With nearly 90% of our placements coming from India, and new partnerships like our MoU with TOMCOM to place 500 professionals from Telangana, we’re doing our part to bridge that gap meaningfully.

And through it all, we return to this: technology is just the tool—care is the commitment. From the first application to arrival in a new country and beyond, we walk alongside our candidates every step of the way. We stay in touch, solve real-life challenges, and celebrate our milestones.

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