The UK and other countries have been accused of adopting a “new form of colonialism” in recruiting huge numbers of nurses from developing nations to fill their own staffing gaps, reports The Guardian. Howard Catton, the chief executive of the International Council of Nurses, said there was “real anger” among attenders at a meeting of nursing associations from across Africa in Rwanda this month. Catton said, “The African nurse leaders said they were angry that high-income countries were using their economic power to take the nursing workforce they needed from poorer, more fragile countries.”

“These wealthier countries were effectively creating a new form of long-term dependency that hinders the development of health systems in the source countries,” Catton said. “They described it as ‘a new form of colonialism’,” he said.

Baboucarr Cham, the president of National Association of Gambia Nurses and Midwives, said, “It is causing a lot of issues in the Gambia, because our experienced nurses are leaving and going to Europe and America. Our main teaching hospital has around 300 registered nurse positions. Last year 53 left.”

Countries such as the UK and Germany have launched overseas nurse recruitment campaigns to fill shortages.

World Health Organization rules are supposed to prevent the poaching of staff from countries with vulnerable health systems. Recruitment from countries on the WHO “red list” should not take place without formal agreements. Catton said, however, that even these often offered only a “veneer of ethical responsibility” and there was often little evidence of mutual benefit. He has previously called for a stronger global code of practice on international recruitment.

A UK government spokesperson said, “Our code of practice ensures ethical and sustainable international recruitment of health and care staff, and our guidance aligns with the latest advice from the World Health Organization. Our £15 million Global Health Workforce Programme is already working to support health workforce development in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, and additional funding of £4.45 million announced earlier this month will enable us to prioritise support to at least two more countries.”