Britain is taking new steps to limit the poaching of developing world doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. A revised code of practice for the country's National Health System (NHS) closes loopholes that allow British employers to strip developing countries of health care professionals.
Growing health care systems in Britain and other industrialized countries actively recruit health care professionals from developing countries. That "brain drain" puts strain on developing-world health systems facing their own health care crises.
Britain's new code of practice forbids employers working with the NHS from recruiting from developing countries unless there is an agreement with that country's government.
British Health Minister John Hutton said in a statement that the NHS is expanding, but won't do so at the expense of other countries.
