This is coming a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) listed Nigeria among 55 countries facing health workforce challenges.
According to the UK government these countries are no longer actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers unless there is a government-to-government agreement.
This was revealed in a statement on the UK government website titled ‘Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care staff in England‘.
The statement read in part, “In line with WHO Global Code of Practice principles and articles, and as clearly called for by the WHO Global Code of Practice 10-year review, listed countries should prioritize health workforce development and health system-related support. Discourage active international recruitment of health personnel.
“Countries on the list must not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers, recruitment agencies, agencies, collaborations or contracting firms. That agreement rules.
“Countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards list are classified red in the code. If a government-to-government agreement is implemented between a partner country that binds recruiting agencies to the terms of the agreement, the country will be added to the Amber List.
It may be recalled that in 2021, the UK suspended the recruitment of health workers from Nigeria and 46 other countries.
The country noted that increasing migration of health and social care workers from low- and low-middle-income countries threatens the achievement of their nation’s health and social care goals. Punch Reports.
Currently, according to data from the UK General Medical Council, there are 11,055 Nigerian-trained doctors in the UK.
Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the United Kingdom. The top countries are India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, A A bill aimed at preventing Nigerian-trained medical and dental professionals from emigrating to foreign countries has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Bill sponsored Mine is Abiodun JohnsonIt proposes that Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioners must work in the country for at least five years before being granted full licenses.
