Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson has called for an urgent review of the World Health Assembly Resolution on the Global Code of Practice for International recruitment citing challenges by lower and upper middle income countries with recruitment of specialist health care workers by developed countries.
Dr. Ferguson says the recruitment of nurses is a particular concern.
Dr. Ferguson was making his contribution to the Plenary discussion on building resilient health systems today (May 19, 2015) at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
“We remain challenged by the recruitment of specialist health care workers, especially our nurses by developed countries that can offer higher remuneration and benefits. In this context we will continue to strengthen our training programme. However the review of WHA resolution on the Global Code of Practice on International Recruitment of Health Personnel remains an important issue for attention,” Dr. Ferguson said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson added that Jamaica and other lower and upper middle income countries are also struggling to afford vaccines and other medicines which are adversely priced. “We therefore call on the WHA to continue the conversation towards affordable and equitable access to medicines,” he said.
The Minister is leading a delegation to the 68th World Health Assembly being held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from May 18-23, 2015.