Ferozuddin Feroz, Afghanistan’s former Minister of Public Health, is experiencing a very different life in the United Kingdom five years after the fall of the previous Afghan government, as he faces a lengthy and complex process to return to the medical profession.
Mr. Feroz, who worked as a surgeon for nine years before entering government, has sought to re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible after being granted asylum in the UK. However, returning to his medical career requires him to go through a series of procedures to have his credentials verified and obtain the necessary professional certifications.
He told the British newspaper The Times that completing the process would take at least two years, during which he would be unable to work as a doctor in the UK. This has made his return to his professional field particularly challenging.
In the meantime, Ferozuddin Feroz applied for two administrative positions with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), but was unsuccessful in securing either job. He now faces a challenge shared by many highly skilled refugees in Britain.
Many professionals who migrate to Western countries after years of experience and employment in their home countries are required to undergo new accreditation and licensing procedures before they can continue working in their fields of expertise. In some cases, they must take jobs outside their professions to cover their living expenses while completing these requirements.
Ferozuddin Feroz served as Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health from 2015 to 2020. Before that, he worked as a surgeon for nine years. In 2019, he received the “Best Minister” award at the World Government Summit.
According to The Times, the award recognized Feroz’s efforts to improve Afghanistan’s health indicators, including reducing the mortality rate among children under the age of five. The report said that during his tenure, under-five mortality declined by 44 percent.
According to the same report, life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan increased by seven years during Ferozuddin Feroz’s tenure achievements that were regarded at the time as significant indicators of progress in the country’s healthcare system.
Ferozuddin Feroz is now trying to return to the medical profession in the UK after completing the required procedures. Despite his years of medical and managerial experience, he is once again having to start the process from scratch.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
