Employers in the UK’s health and social care sectors are not permitted to actively recruit medical personnel from Nigeria, according to the UK government.
This information was provided by the UK in its most recent “Code of Practice” for the international hiring of health and social care staff, which was published on its website.
Nigeria is now listed on the World Health Organization (WHO(red )’s list) health workforce support and safeguards list as having a critical shortage of health workers.
The WHO issued the safeguards list in March, which included 55 nations—55 of which were health worker shortage countries—including Nigeria.
According to the UK government, Nigeria and other nations on the red list should be given priority when it comes to the training of medical personnel and system-related assistance, as well as protections that prevent their workers from actively seeking employment abroad.
According to the code of conduct, “The listed countries should be given priority for health personnel development and support related to health systems, provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of health personnel. This is in line with the WHO Global Code of Practice principles and articles.
“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, the country is added to the amber list.”
It said if a country was not on the red or amber list, then it is green.
The amber countries where international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of the government-to-government agreement are Kenya and Nepal.
Recall that a bill to prevent Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country passed second reading at the House of Representatives last Thursday.
The bill is aimed at addressing the increasing number of medical doctors leaving Nigeria for greener pastures, and making quality health services available to Nigeria.
Sponsored by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, it is titled ‘The Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004’.
Johnson said it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayer’s subsidies on their training, to “give back to the society” by working for a minimum number of years in Nigeria before exporting their skills abroad.
Many lawmakers supported the bill though a number of them called for flexibility and options in the envisaged law.
Uzoma Nkem-Abonta said tying a doctor down for five years in Nigeria before seeking employment outside is akin to enslavement.
However, a majority voice vote passed the bill for second reading at the plenary presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
