Chis decision follows international pressure and explicit requests from certain countries. “Morocco asked to exclude state nurses from our recruitment activities from the second quarter of 2024, an instruction which we respected”declared a spokesperson for the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), to Radio-Canada.
“Countries cite the high cost of training, borne by them, to train their health professionals, as well as the risks associated with the lack of manpower (present or future) to meet their own national needs”added the same source.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Canada, Souriya Otmani, welcomed this decision: “By acting in this way, it seems to me that Quebec has truly made a thoughtful, fair, ethical and equitable decision. » She highlighted the negative impact of the exodus of nurses on the Moroccan health system, affirming that “Dispensaries are built and equipped, but cannot function because there is a lack of medical and nursing staff. The lives of thousands of people are squarely at stake.”
This new direction is part of a broader context of ethical concerns regarding the international recruitment of health personnel. The World Health Organization (WHO) has notably drawn up a list of 55 countries facing serious shortages of healthcare workers, calling on Western nations to “protect vulnerable health systems”.
Lisa Little, first vice-president of the International Council of Nurses, applauded Quebec’s decision: “This is exactly the kind of action and thinking we hope to see from countries as they move towards what we call ethical recruitment. »
This decision comes after two years of a program which made it possible to recruit around 1,000 nurses in Africa. The Quebec government maintains its objective of meeting the dire needs for nursing personnel, while striving to respect international ethical standards and preserve the health systems of the countries of origin.
