G8 'must stop medic brain-drain' in developing nations

BBC News:

Nurses' and doctors' leaders have called on the UK Government to tackle the "poaching" of overseas healthcare workers, at next month's G8 summit.

They say staff migration from developing nations is killing millions and compounding poverty.

The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing have written to Tony Blair demanding urgent action.

They praise the UK's stance on "ethical recruitment", but call for other G8 nations to make similar commitments.

Sub-Saharan African countries are some of the worst hit by the "brain-drain".

The World Health Organization estimates that one million more healthcare workers are needed in these countries if they are to meet basic health goals, such as reducing childhood and maternal mortality.

Last month, UK doctors warned in the Lancet that the UK was crippling sub-Saharan Africa's healthcare system by poaching its staff.

BMA chairman James Johnson said the consequences of poaching on the developing world were "absolutely catastrophic".

"There are large areas of Africa where there are no health workers of any kind," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"The countries of the developed world have helped themselves liberally to doctors and nurses from the developing world for very many years."

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