International - India & World

NRI doctors in U.K. hail verdict

LONDON: Non-Resident Indian doctors on Saturday 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 (NHS).

“The British Medical Association (BMA) believes this is the right decision. Doctors on the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) came to the U.K. in the honest expectation of careers in the NHS,” Chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors committee Ram Moorthy said welcoming the ruling by the High Court here.

“The BMA has never wavered from the view that they should be able to compete for training posts alongside their U.K. colleagues. What’s crucial now is that the government produces clear guidance for international medical graduates applying for jobs next year,” he said. Dr. Moorthy said the chaotic implementation of the new immigration rules left overseas doctors exposed to potential discrimination. — PTI

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