Foreign Doctors in the UK to Face Strict Assessment

Foreign doctors in the UK will face a more rigorous assessment, after figures showed a high proportion of doctors who are disciplined are from overseas.

The BBC reports that in the last five years, 63% of doctors either struck off or suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) were trained outside the UK.

Yet they make up only 36% of doctors on the medical register.

The GMC said new reforms included an induction programme, better checks and a review of the present testing system.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: "We absolutely acknowledge that when it comes to the serious end of the scale, those from overseas are more likely to appear, and we have set about a series of reforms to address this."

A new induction programme for all arriving doctors is due to launch as a pilot scheme in early 2013.

It will combine online training in British medical practices with a one-day course covering some of the key issues facing new arrivals.