Updated

NRI UK doctors poised to take legal action against the UK Government

London, May 28, 2006
Ashok Shaw

NRI doctors association in UK, BAPIO, BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS OF INDIAN ORIGIN is poised to take legal action against the Government for abolishing Permit Free Training for IMGs and for issuing incorrect guidelines in the matter of doctors with HSMP.

The Legal Advice has indicated that we have a good case and if the action succeeds, it may lead to review of these rushed proposals and guidelines which we have always regarded as unfair and without appropriate consultations. The proposed action is to support all categories of affected doctors. We are advised that the time limit for commencing legal action is extremely short.

"The new rules introduced by the Department of Health without adequate consultations, prevent National Health Service Trusts from recruiting junior doctors from outside the EU, unless they can demonstrate that no UK/EU doctor is available to fill the post," Mehta said.

BAPIO has also informed the Commission for Racial Equality that the Department of Health, so far has shown no evidence that it has conducted a thorough Race Equality Impact Assessment required by the statute, he said.

NRI, Dr Satheesh Mathew member of BAPIO's, said "As you know legal proceedings could be very expensive. We have to have a major fund raising exercise. Now we are requesting all doctors to send whatever you can afford.

BAPIO MEMBERS CONTINUE TO LOBBY MP'S.

Mr.Austin Mitchell MP has tabled an Early-Day Motion in the House of Commons about the treatment of trainee doctors from common wealth countries. The motion is supported by 53 Members of Parliament. BAPIO members are vigorously lobbying their MP's.

TREATMENT OF TRAINEE DOCTORS FROM COMMON WEALTH AND FORMER COMMON WEALTH COUNTIRES

19.04.2006.
Mitchell, Austin

That this House expresses its concern at the sudden and peremptory way the Home Office has rushed through without adequate debate inside Parliament or discussion outside it and with only perfunctory consultation with the British Medical Association, associations representing immigrant doctors and a health service heavily dependent on foreign doctors, changes in the immigration rules which will exclude non-EU trainee doctors from shortlists for jobs unless no EU or EEA applicants are available, impose a burden of costs, disruption uncertainty on hospitals dependent on foreign house officers, as well as on the careers and prospects of foreign doctors training in the UK or hoping to come from India or Pakistan to make a career in the UK, and make nationality a more important qualification for medical and dental appointments than excellence, quality or language skills; suggests that to treat doctors from India, Pakistan and other Common Wealth Countries in this fashion is insulting after their great contribution to the National Health Service, and, recognising that these sudden regulations have produced a state of alarm and fear among trainees from overseas, urges that the changes, insofar as they affect medical and dental jobs, both demanding a longer and more complex training than other jobs, be reconsidered and introduced again only after extensive discussion and modification and a substantial period of transition