UK NRI doctors delighted
Court ruling for recruitment in state-run NHS
The court ruled that the order by the Department
of Health regarding employment of doctors on the High-Skilled
Migrant Programme was not lawful.
London, Nov. 10, 2007
Dr. Surinder Singh
NRI doctors wins justice for International Medical Graduates
and welcomed the landmark court ruling which upheld their appeal
against a discriminatory government directive that gave preference
to British and Europeans over other overseas medicos for recruitment
in state-run National Health Service.
Dr Satheesh Mathew, Vice Chair BAPIO (Operations). "This
judgement will mean that Indian doctors and other International
medical graduates in the UK can continue to support the NHS as
they have done so for the past 40 years"
Dr Raman Lakshman, Vice Chair for Policy for BAPIO said "We
are delighted, this will reduce stress among tens of thousands
of doctors who are providing excellent care every day within the
NHS. This judgment means that these International Medical Graduates
can continue to be treated on merit in any recruitment process
"
BAPIO, The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
were delighted after the judgement was handed down ON Nov. 09,
2007 at the High Court upholding their appeal that advice given
by the Department of Health to NHS employers regarding doctors
on the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP) was not lawful.
The appeal was heard by LORD JUSTICE SEDLEY, LORD JUSTICE MAURICE
KAY and LORD JUSTICE RIMER. The Lord Justices were unanimous in
agreeing that the DH guidance was wrong.
Dr Buddhdev Pandya OBE, Corporate Advisor to BAPIO, said "this
was a landmark judgement and now is the time for us all to work
with the Home Office and Department of Health in a constructive
way to heal the wounds and build up again a diverse and highly
trained workforce."
Dr Ramesh Mehta, President of BAPIO, thanked everyone who had
helped to fight the case. "The first person I would like
to thank is Mr Rajendra Chaudhary whose guidance was crucial in
this struggle. We would also like to thank Anthony Robinson of
Linder Myers solicitors and our counsel led by Rabinder Singh
QC. We also want to thank all the hundreds of doctors who contributed
their hard earned money to make this fight possible" he said.
He continued "We see BAPIO's role as one of advocacy for
international medical graduates and ethnic minority doctors and
also an organisation that will support these doctors both at time
of difficulty and to achieve clinical and professional excellence."
Professor Raman Bedi, Chair of BAPIO said "these have been
unfortunate times but now an opportunity exists for everyone to
work together on NHS reforms and make health care in the country
the envy of the world. IMG came to this country to support this
vision and have supported the NHS since its inception in 1948.
Today's judgement will allow them to do so well into the 21st
century. Also, we remember with gratitude Dr Imran Yousaf one
of our members whose life was lost as a result of the stress of
this sad episode."
BMA, The British Medical Association's Chairman believes that
this is the right decision. Doctors on the Highly Skilled Migrant
Programme came to the UK in the honest expectation of careers
in the NHS
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BAPIO
The Physicians of Indian origin have made significant contributions
in building and sustaining the National Health Service. The Indian
Origin implies people who have origins in the countries of the
Indian sub-continent including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka and Nepal......Read More
