• February 25, 2025

Welsh Health Secretary praises NORKA Roots (Video): On visit to India to strengthen healthcare ties

Welsh Health Secretary praises NORKA Roots (Video): On visit to India to strengthen healthcare ties

LONDON Feb 25: The UK Wales National Assembly has praised NORKA ROOTS’ recruitment services as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, appreciated the services offered by the NORKA in Kerala.

An agreement to recruit healthcare professionals to Wales was signed in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan and NORKA ROOTS Chief Executive Officer Ajith Kolasseri on March 1, 2024, in Thiruvananthapuram.

The agreement signed last year with NORKA ROOTS aimed to recruit 250 nursing professionals annually. However, the availability of highly qualified candidates from Kerala and the efficiency of NORKA ROOTS’ recruitment process facilitated the hiring of over 300 nurses. Additionally, doctors specializing in emergency medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, radiology, and hematology were also recruited.

In Kerala, the Health Secretary will meet staff who are due to start work in Wales. He is also due to visit a government hospital to get a better understanding of the healthcare system in India and where healthcare professionals coming to Wales have trained.

Ahead of St David’s Day, he will formally close the Wales in India 2024 year of activity in an event in Mumbai. This has seen an intensive calendar of events in India and in Wales to highlight the deep-rooted heritage, educational, artistic, sporting and economic ties between the two countries.

Several meetings to discuss healthcare, trade and investment between Wales and India will also take place.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Great and deep-rooted bonds exist between Wales and India, and I am pleased to be visiting Mumbai and Kerala to reaffirm and strengthen these.

“Across education, arts, sports, business and healthcare, Wales and India are the birthplaces and homes of world-leading creators and innovators. The year of Wales in India 2024 has been key in celebrating this.

“Ethical international recruitment is part of our workforce strategy to ensure the NHS in Wales has the right people and skills it needs. Nurses and doctors from Kerala play a vital role in supporting our NHS and we want to ensure their experience in Wales is positive and enriching, while also supporting their professional growth.