A European Union scheme to attract health workers will hurt developing countries, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday.
”Many developing countries are already struggling with the migration of health workers. We cannot afford schemes that seek to cream the very limited health skills we still have in developing countries,” she told the first meeting of health ministers from 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific region countries (ACP) held in Brussels, Belgium.
She was referring to the Blue Card scheme, unveiled in Belgium on Tuesday, which aimed at recruiting about 20-million skilled workers, including health workers, to the EU.
Blue-card holders and their families would live, work and travel within the EU. Interested candidates only needed a recognised diploma and three years’ experience to qualify.
Tshabalala-Msimang urged the ACP meeting to adopt a declaration that enjoined all countries to develop national health plans that entailed accelerated training of health-sector workers.
She said developing countries themselves also need to consider whether it was ethical to recruit from one another.
”South Africa has taken a principled position not to recruit from its sister countries, which are facing the same challenges as us.” — Sapa