UK Set To Stop Issuing Visas To Nigerian Doctors

Authorities in the United Kingdom will no longer recruit Nigerian health workers and have placed the country on their red list of nations that should not be considered when recruiting health workers.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) added Nigeria to the list of 55 countries confronting challenges related to the health workforce.

Countries on the UK red list will not be actively targeted by health and social care employers in the UK unless the British and Nigerian governments reach an agreement.

The British government, in a statement titled “Code of Practice for the international recruitment of Health and social care personnel in England,” said:

“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.’’

Continuing, the European nation emphasized that”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.”

Related: UK Resumes Study And Work Visa Applications In Nigeria

Currently, Nigeria is only behind India and Pakistan in the ranking of foreign countries with the highest number of doctors in the United Kingdom.

Statistics from the UK General Medical Council show that at least 11,055 doctors trained in Nigeria currently work in the United Kingdom.

The Nigerian government has commenced with efforts aimed at curbing the exodus of locally-trained doctors travelling abroad.

A bill in the House of Representatives by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson has passed second reading.

The bill proposes that medical or dental health workers trained in Nigeria must practice for at least five years before being granted a full license.

Bad leadership has been the bane of Nigeria, once predicted to become a global powerhouse.

Poor salary structure, inadequate medical equipment, and poor health infrastructure are some of the numerous reasons responsible for the decision of health workers to relocate abroad for better opportunities.