An article in the U.K. daily Independent which also found its way into a couple of Indian websites and national dailies really caught my attention. Being a doctor myself, I was akin to the troubles that my colleagues and seniors were facing in Great Britain, but the sheer magnitude of the situation was really appalling. What I’ll attempt to discuss and analyze in this brief abstract would be the reasons why
medical graduates from India choose to go to U.K. and what hurdles awaits them there.
Having just finished five and a half grueling years in medical school, an Indian medical
Graduate has to either sit for the post graduate entrance
exams or start working as a medical officer in some non-descript hospital. Needless to say, most medicos choose the former option, the reasons being more prestige and a brighter future is guaranteed if one becomes a M.D. Now, let me throw some light on how competitive the entrance exams are. There are barely 150 postgraduate seats foe the open category in the whole of my state, Maharashtra for which more then 10,000 graduates are competing. Even if one manages to get through these exams, the chances that they would be posted in a hospital of their choice are really slim. And now, here comes the bouncer, the salary of postgraduates in their three years of training in Maharashtra is in the range of 7,000 – 10,000 rupees. A 27 year old (that’s what the average age of a first year postgraduate student is) in any other field would be drawing a monthly salary of at least 20 grand.
And the number of working hours that the residents have to be on the floors is inhuman.
The reasons that I have listed above along with the promise of a better and more financially rewarding future are what attracts Indian graduates to go to the U.K. The average salary of a S.H.O. (Senior House Officer), the starting post of an Indian graduate, in the U.K. is a whooping 1700 pounds. Now heralds the ordeal that these nubile graduates have to go through to go to U.K. Well, I would like to rephrase the word ‘ordeal’ as the entire process of landing in the U.K. is far less complex and dependent on luck compared to other countries such as the U.S. The graduates have to go through three exams, I.E.L.T.S. (which tests their English proficiency) , PLAB(Professional Linguistic Assessment Board) parts 1 and 2. The first and second exams are relatively cheap and are simple to get through. Also the fact that these exams are held in India makes many students take them during their internship. But the second exam, PLAB 2, is held in Great Britain, costing 600
pounds per attempt. This is a practical exam, wherein the entire
exam is divided into nine stations and the candidates are tested on their knowledge about the U.K. system of medicine. Undoubtedly, the Indian medicos do not want to take any chances for giving this exam and so they enroll in classes. Also these
classes run by a physician who holds offices in London as well as Mumbai, provides the students sponsorship for U.K. visa and accommodation to stay in London for a month during their training for practical exam. Sounds alluring enough, right? These classes come with a price tag of roughly 40,000 rupees. Getting a visa for the exam in U.K. has never been a problem, so at least the students are rest assured on that front.
Now the Indian Graduate lands in London with dreams and high hopes. Also it’s a huge investment for a normal middle class family, so there’s that extra pressure as well to succeed and excel in his exams. These guys are now put up 3-4 in a room ( they are fondly called the ‘PLABers’ in London) . If everything goes well and they pass their exam, now comes the hurdles one after the other. Although the GMC directory and website warns the aspirants about the shortage of S.H.O. posts, these guys apply to as many posts as possible. To apply, one has to copy their C.V. along with other documents, which costs acool 5 pounds per application. The situation has reached to such a level that at some hospitals, there are 1000 applications for a single post. Now begins the tireless wait for an interview call. If, as in most cases it is, no call comes their way, they have to wait for another 6 months. S-I-X M-O-N-T-H-S guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just imagine the cost of living expenses during that period in a city like London. During this time, the ever optimistic candidates search for a non-paid attachment in a hospital, for which, at times, they have to shell out 80-150 pounds per attachment. According to statistics published in ‘Independent’,50% of all Asian graduates landing in U.K. are without a job for 6 months and 25% are without a job for another 6 months. That’s some scary statistics, right??? This is what compels these doctors to go for free food in Mahalakshmi Temple in East London.
A sincere appeal to all those medicos who are reading this abstract and thinking of going abroad: do a proper reality check of the country you are planning to work in or do further studies in and only then leave your motherland. Al the best fellas.
More summaries about the Fate of junior doctors in U.K.- an analysis – review of an article in Independent