Danielle M. George-All Headline News Staff Reporter

London (AHN)- The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nurses have signed an international treaty that discusses the lack of skilled medical workers around the world.

Both groups want larger countries to make a better effort to provide workers for developing countries. B.M.A. chairman James Johnson believes that, "The failure of countries like the US, and to a lesser extent the UK, to train enough doctors has had devastating consequences for the developing world."

Sub-Saharan Africa is short of one million healthcare workers and in Ghana there are only 1,500 doctors for a population of 20 million, as two-thirds of young doctors leave the country within three years of graduation.

Dr. Edwin Borman, chairman of the B.M.A. international committee, added, "At the moment, richer countries simply aren't doing enough to prevent a complete catastrophe.

The UK has taken a lead in developing an ethical recruitment policy, but all developed countries must follow suit if this is to be a successful initiative."

The B.M.A. said it would be calling for governments to act on the recommendations at a conference of Commonwealth health ministers in Geneva this weekend.