Deal to bring 230 healthcare workers from India to Wales
Welsh Government signs agreement with the Kerala Government.
The Welsh Government is to recruit 250 nurses and doctors from India.
The Health Minister Eluned Morgan has signed an agreement with the Government of Kerala to bring qualified healthcare professions to work here.
During a visit to Kerala she met with some of the nursing and medical professionals, and their families, who will soon be taking up roles in Wales at a reception to thank them and celebrate their contribution to NHS Wales.
Eluned Morgan said: "Despite record number of nurses and other healthcare professionals in NHS Wales, the demand for health care workers globally has significantly increased.
"International recruitment, alongside our investment and commitment to home grown healthcare staff, is one of the ways we can fill the workforce gaps and rely less on agency staff.
"Kerala has a long history of training health care professionals and supporting them to come to Wales.
"I have seen first-hand the tremendous impact these dedicated nurses, doctors and other health care staff have had on our health care services and it was an honour to meet some of Wales’ future workforce as they prepare to come to Wales.
"I am also delighted that despite the challenging financial climate we have been able to maintain our budget for training healthcare professionals in Wales.
"This shows our commitment to building a high quality, professional workforce fit for the future."