200 nurses and doctors from Kerala, India are to be recruited to join the NHS in Wales.
The announcement follows and agreement made last year between the Welsh Government and the Government of Kerala to support ethical recruitment from India to Wales, and on the basis of mutual benefit.
Currently, the NHS in Wales has more staff than at any point in its history, directly employing almost 97,000 full-time equivalent staff. The Welsh Government says it is committed to continue investing in the current workforce and in training the NHS workforce of the future.
Since the agreement was signed in March 2024, more than 300 healthcare professionals have taken up positions across NHS Wales.
Staff Nurse, Teena Thomas, from Karunagappally is set to join NHS Wales soon. They said: "I'm drawn to NHS Wales' commitment to providing high-quality patient care and its reputation for excellence in healthcare.
"I'm excited to be part of a team that values compassion, kindness, and respect. The opportunity to work in a multicultural environment and contribute to the well-being of the Welsh community is truly fulfilling. I'm looking forward to developing my skills and expertise in a supportive and inclusive work environment."
Cabinet secretary for health and social care, Jeremy Miles met with staff coming to Wales and with minister for health, woman and child development, Veena George.
Miles, said: "We are committed to delivering a sustainable NHS workforce which can handle present demands and meet the needs of the future.
"Wales has a long and proud tradition of welcoming healthcare professionals from all over the world and ethical international recruitment is a key part of our workforce strategy to ensure that the NHS in Wales has the right people and skills it needs.
"I am pleased a further 200 healthcare professionals from Kerala will be playing an important part in supporting NHS Wales, joining those who have already been recruited to our healthcare system.
"I thank them for everything they do and the Government of Kerala for the warm welcome and look forward to continuing to build our strong working relationship."
