MN News Hub
The United Kingdom (UK) government has placed Nigeria on the red list of countries that should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers.
This development comes one month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) listed 55 countries, including Nigeria, facing the most pressing health workforce challenges related to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The UK government said that Nigeria and other countries on the red list should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers unless there was a government-to-government agreement.
The UK government, on its website, stated that, “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 prioritized for health personnel development and health system-related support, provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of health personnel.
“Countries on the list should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, or contracting bodies unless there is a government-to-government agreement in place to allow managed recruitment undertaken strictly in compliance with the terms of that agreement.
“Countries on the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list are graded red in the code.
“If a government-to-government agreement is put in place between a partner country, which restricts recruiting organisations to the terms of the agreement, then the country is added to the amber list.”
It added that if a country was not on the red or amber list, then it is green.
Meanwhile, the amber countries where international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of the government-to-government agreement are Kenya and Nepal.
The UK government further noted that active recruitment is permitted from green-graded countries where there is a government-to-government agreement with the UK in place for international health and care workforce recruitment.
It added that, “Green-graded countries without a government-to-government agreement with the UK are not published in the code of practice for England.
“The government-to-government agreement may set parameters, implemented by the country of origin, for how UK employers, contracting bodies, recruitment organisations, agencies, and collaborations recruit.
“These organisations are encouraged to recruit on the terms of the government-to-government agreement.
“The green country list will be updated as new government-to-government agreements are signed with the UK.
“It is recommended that employers, contracting bodies, recruitment organisations, agencies, and collaborations regularly check the list for updates prior to embarking on any recruitment campaign.
“The green-graded countries with a government-to-government agreement for managing international health and care workforce recruitment include India, Malaysia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.”
Source: TheStreetJournal | Read More
