Education, Careers & Professional News
Offshore Dreams
I am planning to take the PLAB Test this year. I belong to a middle class family and going abroad is a big step for me. What are the job prospects of working in UK?
I am afraid I have some bad news for you. Thousands of doctors of Indian origin are jobless in the UK, several of whom depend on breadlines and food doled out at temples for their survival. This is an offshoot of the NHS (National Health Scheme’s) 2001 appeal to plug the demand-supply gap for doctors in UK, following which 18,000 medicos from third world countries with dreams of a secure job made a beelineto UK only to face discrimination and lack of job opportunities.
Further, a new survey conducted by General Medical Council, Britain’s top medical organisation, paints a rather gloomy picture. The report simply reiterates what the British Medical Journal has been harping on for the last one year. Both studies have warned overseas doctors of the grim work scenario in the country. Not even half the candidates who cleared the PLAB tests in 2004 could secure jobs in the first six months while for a quarter of those who cleared PLAB, the last one-year has been synonymous with the ‘No Vacancies’ sign.
On the flip-side, there has been a sharp rise in the number of non-Europeans (nearly 7000) taking the PLAB. Moreover, the market glut for immigrant doctors is further exacerbated by the expansion of UK’s indigenous medical training programme. With new rules com¬ing into force from July 2006
Indian postgraduates applying for medical training in UK will need work permits. Earlier, Indian doctors were given jobs under the’ permit free training’ scheme. Since resident doctors and EU nationals are given preference work permits are now extremely hard to get.
So, I would suggest you hold your horses for the time being as things are expected to take a further downturn in 2006. However, if you have your heart totally set on the UK, you must start enquiries well in advance as it often takes 6 months -1 year to complete the requirements and formalities.
Currently, 117,036 overseas medicos are working for the NHS of which 16,000 are of Indian origin.