Indian doctors wanted at UK trauma wards

Hyderabad: To tackle the shortage of doctors in their accident and emergency departments, the National Health Service in the United Kingdom is looking to recruit Indian doctors. This has raised eyebrows in the Indian medical fraternity.

The UK has extremely strict rules that made it difficult for Indian doctors to practise there, so this opening has come as a surprise to many doctors who have worked in the UK and are now settled in India.

Dr Sashi Kanth, senior orthopaedic surgeon at Care Hospitals, who has worked in London, says, “All this while the rules were changed to ensure that Indian doctors do not make it to the UK. Now, when they have a severe shortage in casualty departments, they want to recruit Indian doctors. British doctors do not like stressful situations and hence don’t like working in the trauma department. Those who opt for it look on it as only a training experience, nothing beyond that.”

Dr S.R.K. Reddy, nehprologist at Yashoda Hospital, who has worked in the US and also researched healthcare in the world, said, “India is booming in terms of healthcare and to move out of India at this point is not advisable. It may be good to gain experience, but nothing else.”

A senior doctor said, “The NHS has pushed us out in the last three years. Now, when there is a shortage, it has again started looking at India. Why is it not asking UK doctors to specialise in trauma and accident cases? They are talking about 50 doctors for now, but the number runs higher.”