A
Co-Rapporteur for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States committee
on Social Affairs Charles Kakoma has called on the European Union (EU) member
states to ensure their migration polices do not undermine the availability of
health professionals in third-world countries.
Mr
Kakoma who is upnd Zambezi west Member of Parliament told the ACP- EU Joint
Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels yesterday that while it was important to
respect individual freedom of movement, EU member states should critically
relook at their migration policies.
He
says it was incredibly shocking that despite spending more resources on
educating and training of health workers, ACP countries had continued to face
critical shortages of health practitioners.
Mr.
Kakoma has observed that after training, most health professionals in ACP
countries migrate to Europe in search of greener pasture, a trend which should
be discouraged.
The
Zambian legislator says there was serious need to find a lasting solution in
order to avert the human resource crisis in ACP countries.
He
has called on ACP member states to priorities medical and health
responsibilities in their respective national plans.
Mr.
Kakoma has stated that the shortcomings of human resource in the health sector
in ACP countries should be addressed by ACP countries without delay adding that
there is need for all ACP countries to meet the 2001 Abuja target to commit 15%
of national budgets to health.
He
has however urged EU member states to continue supporting
ACP countries financially and technically in order to develop national health
plans.
The
Zambian law maker recognized the potential of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) in the provision of healthcare services.
This
according to a press statement made available to radio phoenix by Zambia’s first
secretary for press and public relations to Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg,
and the European Union lambwe kachali
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