Rapid Responses to:

LETTERS: Nigel G Richardson and Omatseye Edema New UK policy on overseas doctors: What future for international medical graduates in the NHS? BMJ 2006; 332: 1033 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Doctors from Pakistan and the new UK policy

AMIN ALI MUHAMMAD GADIT   (2 May 2006)

IMG's are being abandoned

hemant sharma   (14 May 2006)

Doctors from Pakistan and the new UK policy 2 May 2006
AMIN ALI MUHAMMAD GADIT, Professor of Psychiatry Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, A1B 3V6, Canada Send response to journal: Re: Doctors from Pakistan and the new UK policy	Editor, Based on my involvement in a senior administrative position in a medical school of Karachi, Pakistan, I came across a number of young doctors preparing for PLAB, going through the mill of IELTS and other requirements spending a huge amount of money with the hope that eventually they will find a place in a training program of UK, this reverasal of trend occurred after the changed scenario in US. The current figures of those who have passed PLAB but still after the lapse of 1-2 years without placements are very high. Still I get request for references from my ex-students waiting to get a position in UK, most of these are for short term placements and not a regular rotation job. Doctors who are still in this dilemma are working in restaurants and railway stations to be able to survive the living cost in UK. With this new rule, many of them will have no other choice but to return back to the home country where there are very few slots with highly unattractive pay package. Their dreams are shattered and in view of this many young doctors in Pakistan are now opting for jobs in pharmaceutical comapanies. I wonder what will happen to the psyche of these young doctors who have invested so much both financially and emotionally to get further trained and enjoy the feeling and the priviliges of being a postgraduate doctor. Will there be a better tomorrow? Competing interests: None declared
IMG's are being abandoned 14 May 2006
hemant sharma, BST whiston hospital, prescot, merseyside Send response to journal: Re: IMG's are being abandoned	What ever religion, nation or race, Kingdom treated everyone the same, It was the doyen of equality, Merit always brought the fame So, we came from miles a far, Keeping loved ones at heart, Toiled hard, worked with vigor, And gave NHS a new start. We bought houses, Our kids grew here, Every thing was ok, Just rare hitches here and there. Then one day in autumn, A notice came to throw us out, They said, no change is possible, Whether you cry or shout. Thanks! You helped us in crisis, Now the work is done, Go back, doors are shut, Enjoy life, enjoy sun. Dear Mr. Blair, this is for you, To clear some points a few, This IMG notice is in bad taste, Please stop discrimination of nation and race Competing interests: None declared