Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has proposed that Zimbabwe enact a law making it illegal for other countries to recruit its health care personnel.
The minister of health, Mr. Chiwenga, compared the exodus of medical professionals to human trafficking.
Those who plunder the nation’s human capital will face harsher penalties, he promised.
“Mr. Chiwenga stated on Wednesday that it is a crime against humanity to knowingly recruit for the purpose of harming the country. “People are passing away in hospitals due to the lack of nurses and physicians. It requires significant consideration.”
“Zimbabwe condemns in the strongest possible terms this heinous conduct, which constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights,” He quickly added this point.
Since February of 2021, local media report that nearly 4,000 medical professionals have left Zimbabwe.
Medical personnel from Zimbabwe frequently migrate to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom due to the higher pay.
Last month, the United Kingdom ceased recruiting from the southern African nation of Zimbabwe due to its inclusion on the WHO’s red list, which identifies nations with significant health staffing concerns.
The Zimbabwe Medical Association estimates that, out of a population of 15,000,000, there are approximately 3,500 practicing physicians.
As Zimbabwe endures an economic calamity, wages have been slashed as a result of the country’s persistent inflation.
