Our reporter/ The United Kingdom Government has placed Nigeria on its red list of countries not to be targeted for International Recruitment by health and social care employers.
The measure is coming on the heels of last months decision by the World Health Organisation, WHO, listing Nigeria among the 54 countries facing the most pressing health workforce challenges related to Primary and Universal Health Coverage.
The development means that The United Kingdom Government would accept Nigeria and other countries on the red list for Health and social care jobs only based on government-to-government agreements.
The information was contained in the UK Government’s official website titled “Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health and Social Care Personnel in England”.
“Consistent with the WHO Global Code of Practice principles and articles, and as explicitly called for by the WHO Global Code of Practice 10-year review, the listed countries should be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support, provided with safeguards that discourage active international Recruitment of health personnel”, the document reads inparts.
Nigeria in recent years has lost a significant number of its medical personnel to hospitals in Europe, Canada, United States and Middle East countries, a development that threatens the health care needs of the country.
Only last week, a bill to curtail the brain drain in the sector passed second reading in the house of representatives.
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