TERN Group has signed a partnership with BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) Training Academy which promises to deliver 1,000 much needed doctors to the NHS by the end of 2025. As part of this partnership, the BAPIO academy will offer an exclusive fast-track training programme for Consultant and Registrar level doctors to meet UK requirements and be eligible to work here.

The 3 months programme which the physicians will complete in India and receive the General Medical Council (GMC) certification, will cover elements such as technical evaluations, leadership assessment, soft skills, admin requirements, patient comms, inductions to the NHS and its policies, bedside mannerisms, approaches etc. Following completion of the programme, and with their overseas qualification, they will then be able to work in the UK on a skilled worker visa, but will further complete a 1 or 2 year programme at one of the partner universities, alongside their full time job, ensuring full and complete integration into the NHS working practices.  They will also be expected to conduct continuous personal development throughout their time in employment.

The General Medical Council as announced previously (2020) had agreed that the programme will ensure that physicians are at the level required and so have granted BAPIO a sponsorship licence, meaning that they can sponsor doctors to work in the UK. TERN’s partnership with both BAPIO and the Indian Govt’s National Skills Development Council will allow the NHS to access thousands of fully trained Doctors from India that the UK so desperately needs. 

“We are excited about partnering with TERN to deliver an accelerated training scheme for doctors in India to be placed in U.K. The NHS is  able to offer opportunities for higher training and India has the depth and quality of talent to capitalise on this. I have been hugely impressed by the work ethics and speed at which TERN can source and place senior medical professionals into suitable roles, 4x faster than we have seen elsewhere. Their blend of innovative technology and deep partnerships in India with the government and leading associations makes them uniquely placed to deliver. BTA and TERN share a commitment to ethical international migration to enable social mobility and career advancement,” said Professor Parag Singhal, CEO of Bapio Training Academy and leading Consultant Endocrinologist.

“We want to get the highest quality doctors over to work for the NHS and reduce pressures on locum staff, this is our way of contributing to the UK'', says Avi Nigam, co-founder of TERN Group, “We’re aiming to complete 300 placements in the first year, with a further 700 in year 2, so there should be an additional 1,000 fully qualified doctors working for the NHS by the end of 2025. That’s a goal we are very excited to deliver on”.

This comes at a time when NHS Doctors are fleeing the UK to countries such as Canada. In comparison to other nations, the UK has a very low proportion of doctors relative to the population. The average number of doctors per 1,000 people in OECD EU nations is 3.7, but the UK has just 2.9. Germany, by comparison, has 4.3.

According to BMA analysis of OECD data, the UK needs nearly 50,000 additional FTE doctors simply to achieve an equivalent standard with the OECD average of 3.7 doctors per 1,000 people.

Whilst the Guardian has reported that one in twenty NHS patients are now waiting over four weeks to see a GP. Meanwhile, the Health Service Journal reported that NHS spending on general practice is due to fall to its lowest level in over 8 years, according to new figures placed in Parliament.

This is not just a serious situation, we’re in full blown crisis mode. 

Some organisations may be concerned that overseas talent might not be ready or able to integrate sufficiently into our communities but TERN Group addresses these challenges head-on. As well as the BAPIO partnership, which trains the staff up as we’ve discussed above,  their end-to-end global recruitment and migration platform mitigates the pain points ethically and efficiently. 

"International recruitment of highly skilled talent is vital for the UK's future in health and care," says Avinav Nigam, "but it must be done right. TERN's transparent tech solution provides a trusted path for employers and employees alike."

Doctors, and indeed all NHS medical staff have been leaving the sector due to various factors, with mental health issues now the largest reported cause of workforce absence. (Source NHS Digital, Sickness Absence Rates Sep 23). 

Recognising the unique challenges of relocating to a new country, TERN acts as "Local Guardians," offering crucial support to candidates as they transition to life in the UK. This local support is a cornerstone of TERN's commitment to ensuring a smooth and positive experience for all involved. What’s more, TERN places a strong emphasis on quality assurance, meticulously ensuring that all candidates are not only well-qualified but also a suitable match for their roles. 

This partnership has never been done before at this scale. It could be the olive branch the NHS so desperately needs, watch this space.