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UK to treat Indians
on par with EU doctors
WSN Network
London:
Thousands of Indian doctors in the UK have won the legal battle with
the British government to be treated on a par with European medics.
The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, which was
the lead appellant in the 16-month case, said it was exuberant that
the London High Court had upheld its appeal that the British health
ministry had unlawfully decreed non-European Union doctors be
discriminated against when it comes to jobs.
Dr Raman Lakshman, BAPIO policy vice chair said: ‘‘We are absolutely
delighted. This is a truly happy Diwali for thousands of doctors who
have been through 18 months of unimaginable stress. Doctors on the
HSMP came to the UK on the understanding they are required here and
will be treated fairly. This judgment means that these International
Medical Graduates can expect to be treated on merit for the 2008
recruitment process and onwards.’’
BAPIO president Dr Ramesh Mehta added that his organisation, which
claims a 6,000-strong membership and says it represents a further
25,000 Indian doctors in the UK, illustrated that ‘‘BAPIO’s role
(was) one of advocacy for international medical graduates and ethnic
minority doctors”.
The appeal was heard by three Lord Justices, Sedley, Maurice Kay and
Rimer, all of whom were unanimous in agreeing that the guidance
issued by the Department of Health on treatment of non-European
doctors on the Highly-Skilled Migrant Programmed was not lawful.
BAPIO, which late on Friday, was celebrating a well-deserved victory
after a gruelling and expensive, 150,000-pound case, said the
judgment meant that Indians and other International Medical
Graduates can henceforth expect to be treated on merit as they
compete for jobs with UK and EU nationals for postgraduate medical
jobs.
‘‘BMA has never wavered from view that they should compete for
training posts alongside UK colleagues. It’s crucial that government
produces guidance for international medical graduates applying for
jobs,’’ he said.
14
November, 2007
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