COVID-19: UK hints changing of visa rules, Indian doctors to benefit

United Kingdom: United Kingdom has been learnt to mull changing of its visa rules for overseas Health workers that may benefit Indian doctors who are living and wish to serve in that country. Indian origin United Kingdom Home Secretary Priti Patel hinted that the British Government has been deciding to change visa rules for overseas Health workers. During a press brief, on Sunday the Home Secretary said, “A surcharge added on to the work visas of overseas healthcare workers, including those from India, within the state-funded National Health Service(NHS) is currently under review.” The UK Government has been reviewing the surcharge, which was added to the NHA in 2015, as they battle against the coronavirus pandemic, the Secretary added. The surcharge was increased from 400 pounds to 624 pounds earlier this year that has created dissatisfaction among Indian origin doctors in UK. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) termed the surcharge as an “unfair and discriminatory". The organisation also said that the overseas medics regularly pay their tax dues while contributing to the NHS. The Home Secretary also said, “That is something that obviously I am working with my colleague Matt Hancock (UK Health Secretary) in the Department of Health and Social Care because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue to support everyone on the front line in the NHS." The UK Home Secretary post is a cabinet rank ministry. The Home Secretary also said, “That is something that obviously I am working with my colleague Matt Hancock (UK Health Secretary) in the Department of Health and Social Care because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue to support everyone on the front line in the NHS." The UK Home Secretary post is a cabinet rank ministry.

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