Archive · 15 Jan 2026
UK to Prioritize British Graduates for NHS Training Posts
The UK government has introduced a new law that will give priority to British medical graduates when they apply for special training jobs in the NHS.
This means that UK graduates will have a better chance to get these training posts compared to doctors from other countries.
The change is expected to reduce the number of doctors competing for each training post.
Some groups, like the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), are worried about how this will affect doctors from India who have been working in the NHS for a long time.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has welcomed the change but also has concerns about protecting experienced international doctors.
The UK's Academy of Medical Royal Colleges supports the change, saying it will be fairer and better for taxpayers.
UK graduates will be prioritized for NHS specialty training posts under the new Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill.
The bill aims to address the 'catastrophic mismanagement' of the previous Conservative government and protect taxpayer investment in training UK medics.
The changes are expected to halve the number of doctors competing for each NHS specialty training post from four to two.
BAPIO and BMA have expressed concerns about the impact on international medical graduates (IMGs), particularly those from India with significant NHS experience.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges supports the change, stating it will be fairer and better value for taxpayers.
- Who
- UK graduates and international medical graduates (IMGs), particularly Indian doctors, in the NHS
- What
- A new law to prioritize UK-trained medical graduates for NHS specialty training posts
- When
- The bill was tabled on January 14, 2024, and changes will be fast-tracked to apply to applicants from this year
- Where
- United Kingdom, specifically impacting the NHS
- Why
- To address the 'catastrophic mismanagement' of the previous Conservative government and to protect the investment of British taxpayers in training UK medics
- Bill Name
- Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill
- Tabled By
- Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health
- Date Tabled
- January 14, 2024
- Impact on Competition
- Expected to halve the number of doctors competing for each NHS specialty training post from four to two
- Indian Doctors in NHS
- 12,820 as of June 2025
- BAPIO Concern
- Lack of clarity on how Indian-trained doctors with NHS experience will be treated
- BMA Stance
- Cautious welcome, concerns about experienced international doctors
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
- Supports the change, believes it will be fairer and better value for taxpayers