For care

The UAF has been representing the interests of refugee healthcare professionals for many years.
We do this together with partners in the healthcare sector.

Talent should not be wasted

There is a need for medical staff and yet refugee healthcare professionals do not receive the guidance they need on their way to a job. If they want to practice their profession, in theory they need a year and a half to obtain their BIG registration.

In practice, this often takes twice as long, due to a lack of information, slow procedures, the large number of authorities involved and limited opportunities to gain practical experience. Even the corona crisis did not lead to more opportunities for refugee healthcare professionals to contribute to the care of patients.

Advocacy

For many years, the UAF has been committed to the position of refugee healthcare professionals who are unable to practice their profession here due to rules and other obstacles. Last year, together with experts from the medical field, we succeeded better than ever.

Together with Erasmus University, we initiated a round table discussion with experts and the Ministry of VWS. The result: a project group is being set up to structurally improve the guidance of healthcare professionals. To this end, we are joining forces with chain partners, including the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and experts in the healthcare sector.

Together with the Hogeschool van Amsterdam and with the support of VSBfonds, we also developed an orientation year for HBO Nursing. This gives refugee healthcare professionals the opportunity to orient themselves on training or a job in healthcare. The first group of participants started in September 2020. In 2021, a similar initiative started with HAN (Hogeschool van Arnhem and Nijmegen).

We have initiated a movement and expect this to have a positive effect in the coming years.

In 2020, at the request of the UAF, I helped set up a round table that dealt with the question: how can we ensure that refugee professionals with a medical background can find work in the Netherlands? In that contact it once again became clear to me how important the guiding function of the UAF is for these and other professionals.

Pauline Meurs, Scientific Director Erasmus Center for Healthcare Management

What have we achieved in 2023?

Thanks to the efforts and involvement of many, we achieved great successes again in 2023.

There did 1.523 refugees appealed to the UAF for support. We could 1.080 honor requests. These students and professionals started with a modular coaching program that matches their talents and ambitions.

We had an average of 3.220 refugees in guidance who together follow 4.001 guidance modules.

Healthcare professionals prepared for the medical assessment

Healthcare professionals completed their training

of which successfully completed

0 %

Formed medical mentor couples

Do you help refugee healthcare professionals on their way?

Talent should not be wasted. With your donation you make a world of difference for them.

UAF presents report to MPs: use potential refugee healthcare professionals

To improve the procedure for refugee healthcare professionals, the UAF is part of the working group led by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. In addition, with a subsidy from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the UAF has started setting up a mentor network in the healthcare sector. The constructive cooperation with VWS and the project assignment from SZW to the UAF lead to important adjustments and improvements to the procedure.

However, we are not there yet! On November 18, 2021, the UAF presented the research report 'From A to BIG to Healthcare Professional' to the spokespersons for civic integration and integration of the Ministry of SZW. From the UAF, we would like to draw attention to five bottlenecks for which no solution has yet been found. Now that healthcare is creaking and groaning, the knowledge and expertise of refugee healthcare professionals can make the difference. By removing these bottlenecks, even more refugee healthcare professionals can enrich healthcare in the future.

Read the inspiring stories

Advisory committee: healthcare needs asylum seekers to fill vacancies OUR
Item NOS Journal  with medical school doctor Rami Alfaouri, cardiologist Sjoerd Hofma and former UAF director Mardjan Seighali
Although care is crying out for people, status holders are not accepted. – The Financial Times
'I don't think anyone will call me' – The Green Amsterdammer
This article was noticed by politicians in The Hague and parliamentary questions have been asked about it by Jan Paternotte and Rens Raemakers of D66. We will keep a close eye on the progress of this file and our work on this point will continue.

Your donation helps refugee healthcare professionals on their way

Help refugee healthcare professionals to work. With your donation you make a world of difference for them.

For care

For care

Talent should not be wasted

There is a need for medical staff and yet refugee healthcare professionals do not receive the guidance they need on their way to a job. If they want to practice their profession, in theory they need a year and a half to obtain their BIG registration.

Advocacy

For many years, the UAF has been committed to the position of refugee healthcare professionals who are unable to practice their profession here due to rules and other obstacles. Last year, together with experts from the medical field, we succeeded better than ever.

We have initiated a movement and expect this to have a positive effect in the coming years.

What have we achieved in 2023?

Do you help refugee healthcare professionals on their way?

UAF presents report to MPs: use potential refugee healthcare professionals

Read the inspiring stories

Siyad: 'The UAF is an old friend that I don't call enough'

Mohannad: 'My brain was my passport'

Kumru's story: first a teacher, now a nurse

In the media

Your donation helps refugee healthcare professionals on their way

© 2024 UAF

For care

For care

Talent should not be wasted

There is a need for medical staff and yet refugee healthcare professionals do not receive the guidance they need on their way to a job. If they want to practice their profession, in theory they need a year and a half to obtain their BIG registration.

Advocacy For many years, the UAF has been committed to the position of refugee healthcare professionals who are unable to practice their profession here due to rules and other obstacles. Last year, together with experts from the medical field, we succeeded better than ever.

We have initiated a movement and expect this to have a positive effect in the coming years.

What have we achieved in 2023?

Do you help refugee healthcare professionals on their way?

UAF presents report to MPs: use potential refugee healthcare professionals

Read the inspiring stories

Siyad: 'The UAF is an old friend that I don't call enough'

Mohannad: 'My brain was my passport'

Kumru's story: first a teacher, now a nurse

In the media

Your donation helps refugee healthcare professionals on their way

© 2024 UAF

Advocacy

For many years, the UAF has been committed to the position of refugee healthcare professionals who are unable to practice their profession here due to rules and other obstacles. Last year, together with experts from the medical field, we succeeded better than ever.