VSO highlights shortcomings of Department of Health recruitment proposals
(8 September 2004)International development charity VSO, cautiously welcomes the Department of Health's proposals but highlights that the Department has still ignored the main issue.
Mark Goldring, chief executive of VSO says:
Domestic agendas are overriding the need to tackle poverty, we should manage migration in a way that puts the needs of poor countries first. The DH proposals start with UK needs and then introduce some conditions with regard to the sensitivities of other countries.
The contradictions in this UK led approach are evident from the fact that yesterday the DH appeared to tighten regulation while just two weeks ago they announced they would be allowing more hospitals more freedom from their restrictions.
VSO calls on DFID and the FCO to take a lead on behalf of developing countries, rather than UK Government departments predominantly serving their own interests.
Agencies such as VSO are being asked to help pick up the pieces left from the way in which the health and education services are working in this country.
For example, VSO is being asked to send an increased number of nurses to Malawi. This makes sense in the context of poverty and HIV and AIDS but no sense in the context of the action of health services in the UK.
Background
VSO is sending 30 health professionals to Malawi by February 2005. The charity will increase that number to 60 by the end of next year. To make this sustainable, VSO is working with both the Malawian and UK Government on the broader issue of training, terms, pay and conditions for Malawian health workers and the recruitment of these staff by other countries, including the UK.
Editors' notes
- For more information and to talk to a spokesperson please contact Adam Bowers.
