Medical colleges condemn scrapping of NHS placements for overseas doctors
Scheme brought in up to 500 foreign-trained doctors a year and was seen as example of British ‘soft power’ The NHS has scrapped a longstanding scheme that let overseas doctors boost their skills in UK hospitals and was seen as an example of British “soft power”. Senior doctors have criticised NHS England’s decision to axe the Medical Training Initiative, under which 400 to 500 foreign-trained…
The Medical Training Initiative (MTI), a program that allowed foreign doctors to work and learn in UK hospitals, has been discontinued by NHS England. This decision has sparked criticism from senior doctors, who hail the MTI as a successful example of British "soft power" and international cooperation. The MTI, known as "earn, learn and return," enabled medical graduates from low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to enhance their skills in UK hospitals for up to two years.
Each year, the program granted placements to 400-500 foreign doctors, with an annual cost of £176,000 to NHS England. The scheme was seen as vital for addressing the NHS's reliance on international graduates, who make up two-fifths of its medical workforce. However, an internal review by NHS England suggested the scheme was not effectively serving its intended purpose, as some doctors stayed in the UK without contributing to their home countries.
Additionally, allegations of wage exploitation were raised. Despite these concerns, the MTI's president, Dr. Clare McNaught, emphasized that its discontinuation could exacerbate the already acute shortage of doctors in the NHS, which heavily depends on international graduates.
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