| |
The new changes to the UK Immigration Law to be introduced
in July 2006 will strike a deathblow to the aspiring
doctors from Non – EU countries, especially from
India wishing to settle down in the United Kingdom.
In accordance with the new law, Indian medical graduates,
who want to come to Britain either for training or employment,
should have a work permit opposed to the traditional
permit free training arrangement for international doctors.
Further, those who are already in the UK and do not
have a work permit must return to their home country
and apply again.
Though the move has sparkled heavy criticism from overseas
medical doctors including the British medical experts,
it is however intended to give more preference to the
local doctors and those from the EU countries against
the better-qualified foreign doctors. Under the new
rules, hospitals recruiting overseas doctors from non
– EU countries will have to establish that they
are unable to find suitable local candidates. Moreover,
the jobs offered must be in the sectors where there
is a “genuine skills shortage”. Conversely,
non- EU nationals who are trained in a UK medical school
are exempted for two years to enable them to qualify
to register with the General Medical Council.
Justifying the forthcoming changes, the UK Health Minister
Lord Warner has cited the growing competition for medical
jobs in the National Health Service. (NHS)
|
|
