Why Indian doctors are quitting the UK: Pay, policies and limited opportunities

London/India: A growing number of Indian healthcare professionals are leaving the UK, citing financial pressures, restrictive immigration policies, and limited long-term career opportunities in the National Health Service (NHS).

Once considered a top destination for Indian doctors seeking global experience, the UK is now struggling to retain them as other countries, including Australia, Canada, and parts of the Middle East, offer higher salaries, clearer career pathways, and lower taxes.

Decline in health and care worker visas

Government data presented in India’s Winter Session of Parliament shows that Health and Care Worker visas issued to Indian nationals fell by nearly 67%, with nursing visas seeing a sharper drop of 79%.

Senior NHS cardiologist Rajay Narain, with over two decades of experience, told PTI that many Indian doctors are leaving not because of dissatisfaction with their work, but due to lower pay and restrictive immigration policies.

“Many graduates are leaving the UK as salaries there are lower compared with those offered in some European countries. Recent data indicate that Indian-origin healthcare professionals are increasingly choosing to work abroad, attracted by better pay, higher standards of living, and comparatively lower taxes,” said Dr. Narain.

Financial and work pressures

Doctors working in the NHS face high taxation, with senior consultants paying 45% income tax, 2% National Insurance, and around 12.5% toward NHS pensions. Combined with stagnant salaries, these factors make long-term planning difficult for overseas professionals.

Trainee doctors and international medical graduates also face hurdles, including limited PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) test slots and high competition for clinical positions, even for UK graduates.

What is the historical context

Indian doctors have a long history of contributing to the NHS. Since its establishment in 1948, the UK has relied heavily on international medical graduates, many of whom trained in India when medical education followed British standards. Until 1975, Indian medical degrees were recognised directly by the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC).

Despite this legacy, successive UK governments have prioritised reducing net migration, which has indirectly affected legal healthcare migrants. Competition from locally trained doctors has also increased, as medical graduate numbers rise but training positions remain limited.

Impact of COVID-19 and NHS financial strain

The COVID-19 pandemic further strained the NHS, with much spending diverted to agency and bank staff to cover shortages. Post-pandemic, NHS trusts are under pressure to cut costs and improve efficiency, limiting opportunities for overseas professionals.

NHS pulmonologist Manish Gautam noted, “Although UK healthcare experience remains highly valued, opportunities are constrained by financial realities.”

Migration trend

Experts predict a continuing decline in Indian-origin healthcare professionals in the UK. Dr. Sanjay Gandhi, a senior NHS radiologist, says he knows several doctors who have moved to Australia or New Zealand in the past three years alone.