The United Kingdom (UK) has included Ghana from their active recruitment. Nigeria, Angola, and Cameroon among 54 countries that should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers.
This announcement was made by the UK government in its revised code of practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England. This was published on the NHS Employers website.
The countries placed on the red list of ‘No active recruitment’ under the code are Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh. Others are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire. Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon. The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia.
Other countries are Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Republic of Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The countries listed have a UHC Service Coverage Index that is lower than 50. A density of doctors, nurses and midwives that is below the global median (48.6 per 10,000 population).
The code applies to the appointment of all international health and social care personnel in the UK. Including all permanent, temporary, and locum staff in clinical and non-clinical settings.
UK code of conduct
The code stated that being on the list doesn’t prevent individual health and social care personnel from independently applying to health and social care employers for employment in the UK of their own accord. Without being targeted by a third party, such as a recruitment agency or employer (known as a direct application).
Further, It defined active international recruitment in the code as the process by which UK health and social care employers (including local authorities). Others include contracting bodies, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, and sub-contractors target individuals to market UK employment opportunities.
Also, with the intention of recruiting to a role in the UK health or social care sector. It includes both physical or virtual targeting, and whether or not these actions lead to substantive employment.
This includes but is not limited to allied health professionals, care workers, dentists, doctors, healthcare scientists, medical staff, midwives, nursing staff, residential and domiciliary care workers, social workers, and support staff.
It will be recalled that in March this year, the WHO included Ghana. With 54 other countries on its Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023.
The global health body stated that the countries are faced with the most pressing health workforce challenges. Related to universal health coverage.
Credit: graphic.com.gh
