UK to Stop Recruitment of Healthcare Workers from Nigeria, 53 other countries

 

The United Kingdom has placed Nigeria and fifty-three other countries on the red list for recruitment of social and healthcare workers. This is in accordance with the recent review of the World Health Organisation Code of Practice. In its review, the WHO listed 55 countries that need to be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support. It added that these countries need to be provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of health personnel.

The UK government stated that recruitment in the countries on the red list can only occur after a government-government agreement. Active recruitment is permitted only in green-graded countries for the health and care work unit. These countries include Malaysia, India, Philippines, amongst others.

It is recommended that employers, contracting bodies, recruitment organizations, agencies, and collaborations regularly check the list for updates before embarking on any recruitment campaign.

In a related development, there is already an outrage against the Federal Government’s plot to forcefully keep doctors in Nigeria through a new bill proposing a five-year prelicensing practice for Nigeria-trained doctors.

Indeed, there has been a concern in recent times over the relocation of many healthcare workers in Nigeria to foreign countries. It is believed that frequent relocation contributes to the declining state of the country’s health sector. If passed into law, medical and dental practitioners trained in the country will have to practice for at least five years before they are granted a full license.