Zimbabwe set to lose more health professionals as ...

Zimbabwe set to lose more health professionals as UK relaxes requirement for international nurses

Zimbabwe is one of the nations that will be negatively impacted by UK's deliberate health professionals headhunting policies

Audrey Galawu

Zimbabwe and other countries are set to lose more health professionals as the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council actively sets out to attract more foreign workers.

The council has approved two key changes to its English language requirements which simplifies procedures for nurses who want to work in the country.

In a memo, the NMC stated that the move, which should come into effect in 2023 is meant to empower internationally educated nurses to “fulfil their dream” of working as nurses in the UK.

The NMC will standardise the minimum scores it accepts when individuals need to combine two English language test scores which means adjusting the scores accepted individually across the four domains of the test, which include reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Currently, when combining test scores, an applicant needs to achieve an overall combined score of 7 or B, however if they score below a 6.5 or C+ in any of the individual domains they are unable to combine their score with another test.

The NMC will now accept result where some sections have half a point or half a grade below the minimum required.

For example, if an applicant scored a 6 or C in writing, where the minimum score is 6.5 or C+, they will still be able to get in.

The number of doctors and nurses from outside the EU working in the NHS in England has soared since Britain voted in 2016 to leave the bloc.

UK health secretary, Steve Barclay, says UK is actively working to increase overseas recruitment to help plug workforce gaps in health and social care.

He says the country expects thousands of extra health professionals as a result of the new rules making it easier for medical regulators to register those who have qualified abroad.

This is bad news for countries in Africa, including Zimbabwe which are facing shortage of nurses in both private and public hospitals due to the migration of health workers to the UK.

https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/476/social-pact-only-cure-for-perennial-health-service-ailments

According to the Health Services Board, over 2 200 health workers left Zimbabwe in 2021.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association President Erick Dongo said the relaxation of requirements should be a wake-up call for government.

"Government should offer competent salaries to attract nurses and stop them from going to the UK amd think twice before they relocate.

He also said the demand of health workers is crippling the health sector as there are no mentors to educate junior nurses.

The migration of health workers to the UK has not only impacted Zimbabwe but several countries including Kenya and South Africa which has compromised service delivery in health facilities.

The Democratic Nurse Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) has called on the South African government to improve working conditions in the country to discourage health workers from leaving.

This is after reportedly 2 576 nurses left for the UK in 2021 whilst Kenya sent its first batch of nurses in October 2021. The Kenyan government pledged to send 20 000 nurses to the UK to address a shortage while 894 already work there.