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The United Kingdom (UK) has placed a restriction on the recruitment of healthcare workers from Kenya.

According to the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Kenya has been added to the amber list in the Code of Practice on international recruitment of health and social care personnel.

Countries on the amber list have a shortage of nurses and other healthcare workers. Kenya was previously on the green list.

The DHSC says the decision was made to protect Kenya against a shortage of healthcare workers, adding that the recruitment of those who already have conditional offers can continue.

“This means employers and recruitment agencies, including NHS trusts, must stop all active recruitment of health and social care personnel from Kenya to the UK with immediate effect,” the DHSC wrote.

“Adding Kenya to the amber list in the Code will protect Kenya from unmanaged international recruitment which could exacerbate existing health and social care workforce shortages. It remains a country with significant health workforce challenges.”

‘PREVENTING PRIVATE RECRUITMENT’

Following the announcement by DHSC, Jane Marriott, British high commissioner to Kenya, and Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s health minister, issued a clarification.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the officials said the movement of Kenya to the amber list is geared at preventing private companies from taking advantage of recruitment agreements.

The officials of both countries said international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of a government-to-government agreement.

“We wish to confirm that contrary to information circulating to the effect that Kenyan nurses are no longer able to access the UK market, the recruitment mechanism will continue and has been strengthened in accordance with WHO code of practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel in the United Kingdom,” the statement reads.

“Moving Kenya from Green to Amber means international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of a government-to-government agreement. This will stop private companies taking advantage of the interest generated by the agreement between our two governments and stop uncontrolled recruitment.

“The ministry of health and the UK government appreciate our long-standing partnership, with the two having signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2021 that will see Kenya’s health workforce recruited to UK hospitals. Under the agreement Kenya health workers will be absorbed into the national health service, the publicly-funded British healthcare system this plan will continue.

“The latest development will give the two governments more control to manage recruitment tools at any future international recruitment is managed strictly in compliance with the terms of a government-to-government agreement.

“This managed recruitment will enable Kenyan government regulate the numbers of health workers to be recruited in order to protect the country from uncontrolled recruitment. In addition, the two governments are setting up structures at the Kenya medical training college Nairobi to make a to make it a hub for workforce preparation, exam preparation and mocks administration so as to ensure Kenyan forces faced the exams well prepared.”

Statement with CS Kagwe 👇

In short, 🇰🇪 🇬🇧 nurses deal and recruitment continues, through the agreement between our two governments, and stopping private companies taking advantage with uncontrolled recruitment. @MOH_Kenya https://t.co/YRfE60lP7u

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— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottUK) November 12, 2021