Indian physicians in UK claim they face inequality
4 March 2013 7:22 AM IST
A group of Indian-origin physicians has launched a legal action against the regulatory body for doctors in the UK, alleging that the exam, which confirms a doctor has satisfactorily completed speciality training and is competent to enter independent practice, is flawed and discriminates against international trainees.
The British Association of Physicians of Indian-Origin (BAPIO) claims there is a ‘significant difference in pass rates’ between UK and international graduates, including those of Indian origin.
Their lawyers have started a legal bid against the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), and standards body, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
‘BAPIO is seeking a Judicial Review of the way the RCGP conducts the MRCGP exam. Our lawyers claim there is a significant different in pass rates which cannot be explained by a lack of any knowledge, skill or competency on the part of the International Medical Graduates (IMGs), which include those of Indian origin,’ Ramesh Mehta, President of BAPIO said in a statement on Sunday.
The BAPIO argues that these graduates will have already passed the GMC's PLAB test (which includes an English language test and demonstrates that graduates have the necessary skills and knowledge to practise medicine in the UK), a rigorous examination for entry into GP training and on-going assessments.
RCGP figures show that 65.3 per cent of IMGs failed their first attempt at the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) component of the MRCGP exam in 2011-12, compared with 9.9 per cent of UK graduates.
In 2010-11, 59.2 per cent of IMGs failed at the first attempt, compared with 8.2 per cent of UK graduates.
In 2008, 43 per cent of IMGs failed the CSA compared with 8.3 per cent of UK graduates.
These doctors are failed in spite of the fact that they will have had supervised training for three years during which time each of them would have seen on an average 3,000 patients without any complaints.
To reach this stage they would also have had good feedback from trainers and colleagues and would have passed the theory test.
BAPIO says increasing numbers of GP trainees have been contacting them regarding concerns about the CSA. This exam is intended to mimic practice as a GP and test a trainee's clinical skills.
Each candidate is required to see a number of patients, each of whom is an actor role-playing to present a clinical case. consultation.
Currently there are over 40,000 doctors of Indian-origin working in the NHS.
The British Association of Physicians of Indian-Origin (BAPIO) claims there is a ‘significant difference in pass rates’ between UK and international graduates, including those of Indian origin.
Their lawyers have started a legal bid against the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), and standards body, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
‘BAPIO is seeking a Judicial Review of the way the RCGP conducts the MRCGP exam. Our lawyers claim there is a significant different in pass rates which cannot be explained by a lack of any knowledge, skill or competency on the part of the International Medical Graduates (IMGs), which include those of Indian origin,’ Ramesh Mehta, President of BAPIO said in a statement on Sunday.
The BAPIO argues that these graduates will have already passed the GMC's PLAB test (which includes an English language test and demonstrates that graduates have the necessary skills and knowledge to practise medicine in the UK), a rigorous examination for entry into GP training and on-going assessments.
RCGP figures show that 65.3 per cent of IMGs failed their first attempt at the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) component of the MRCGP exam in 2011-12, compared with 9.9 per cent of UK graduates.
In 2010-11, 59.2 per cent of IMGs failed at the first attempt, compared with 8.2 per cent of UK graduates.
In 2008, 43 per cent of IMGs failed the CSA compared with 8.3 per cent of UK graduates.
These doctors are failed in spite of the fact that they will have had supervised training for three years during which time each of them would have seen on an average 3,000 patients without any complaints.
To reach this stage they would also have had good feedback from trainers and colleagues and would have passed the theory test.
BAPIO says increasing numbers of GP trainees have been contacting them regarding concerns about the CSA. This exam is intended to mimic practice as a GP and test a trainee's clinical skills.
Each candidate is required to see a number of patients, each of whom is an actor role-playing to present a clinical case. consultation.
Currently there are over 40,000 doctors of Indian-origin working in the NHS.
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