Doctors Organisation criticizes higher UK immigration charges
23 February 2005
An upcoming rise in immigration application fees is likely to discourage overseas doctors from coming to the UK, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).
The British Government recently announced that application charges would be raised by at least 200 percent from April 1 of this year. On February 18 the BMA released a letter to UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke from the association's Chairman James Johnson pointing out that many doctors change jobs several times a year, and that the Government's plan to charge them 500 pounds each time is "unreasonable."
Mr. Johnson also stated that with an estimated 30 percent of doctors in the UK trained overseas, Britain's National Health Service (NHS) is heavily reliant on immigrant medics.
"The UK is still desperately short of doctors and until the day comes when NHS is self sufficient in doctors, we cannot risk excessive charges for immigration applications discouraging doctors from migrating to the UK," wrote Mr. Johnson.
Another doctors' representative also called on the Government to rethink its plans.
According to Edwin Borman, Chairman of the BMA's International committee:"Thousands of overseas doctors in the UK are frustrated at the introduction and subsequent increase in the charges for immigration applications. I would not be surprised if doctors think twice about coming to the UK and instead migrate to other countries in need of their skills. It is time to stop using overseas doctors [as] a political football and adopt sensible immigration policies that take into account Britain's need for skilled healthcare professionals."
The UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme includes special provisions to encourage foreign doctors to emigrate to the UK.