Poaching doctors from abroad is unethical

‘Successive UK governments have realised that it is cheaper to import doctors than to train our own.’ Photograph: Richard Saker/The Guardian

As you report (8 June), the UK is importing an ever-increasing number of doctors from abroad to plug staffing gaps in the NHS. The majority come from low-income countries where they are desperately needed. This ongoing practice raises serious moral and ethical questions.

Guidance is enshrined in the World Health Organization code of practice, which states that “member states should discourage active recruitment of health professionals from developing countries facing critical shortages of health workers”.