LONDON: A surcharge added to the work visas of health workers abroad, including those from India, within the state-funded National Health Service is being reviewed as they fight the coronavirus pandemic, the Saturday the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.
The Indian-born Cabinet Minister who chaired the daily Downing Street briefing was asked about this long-standing lawsuit within the medical community, which has been pressing against the additional financial burden on already contributing doctors and nurses. directly to the NHS.
"We have a variety of measures that are, like most things in the government, under review, and we are looking at everything, including the visa surcharge," he said.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), introduced in April 2015, is imposed on anyone in the UK on a work, study or family visa for more than six months to raise additional funds for the NHS. Earlier this year, it was further increased from 400 pounds to 624 pounds per year.
The British Association of Indian Physicians (BAPIO) is among the agencies pressing against what has been called a "unfair and discriminatory" charge on foreign doctors who pay their taxes while contributing to the NHS.
Now, Patel has indicated that it is reviewing this along with its cabinet colleague, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
"That is something that I am obviously working on with my colleague Matt Hancock in the Department of Health and Social Assistance because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue supporting everyone along the lines of front on the NHS, "he said.
The minister had previously announced a free visa extension for NHS doctors whose visa was due to expire in October, so they have "peace of mind" as they fight the deadly virus in the country's hospitals.
In his daily briefing on Saturday, Patel also urged the British public to continue "staying strong" and abide by the closure measures to support the NHS in its fight against the spread of COVID-19.
She said: “We must be sure that we can continue to protect the NHS. That there is a sustained and constant drop in daily mortality rates … we all have a role to play in lifting our country out of this crisis.
"Therefore, I urge you all to stay strong and embrace that spirit of national unity by following the advice: stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives."
It also issued a warning to criminals seeking to exploit the current shutdown situation, as it revealed that the reported losses from coronavirus fraud are now £ 2.4m.
The minister said: “Auto crime, shoplifting and shoplifting are all lower than in the same period since this past year. But we also know that the most sophisticated criminals continue to exploit and capitalize on this horrendous crisis.
So today I have a message for them: Our world-class law enforcement is also adapting, and they are against it. And their efforts are paying off. "
The Indian-born Cabinet Minister who chaired the daily Downing Street briefing was asked about this long-standing lawsuit within the medical community, which has been pressing against the additional financial burden on already contributing doctors and nurses. directly to the NHS.
"We have a variety of measures that are, like most things in the government, under review, and we are looking at everything, including the visa surcharge," he said.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), introduced in April 2015, is imposed on anyone in the UK on a work, study or family visa for more than six months to raise additional funds for the NHS. Earlier this year, it was further increased from 400 pounds to 624 pounds per year.
The British Association of Indian Physicians (BAPIO) is among the agencies pressing against what has been called a "unfair and discriminatory" charge on foreign doctors who pay their taxes while contributing to the NHS.
Now, Patel has indicated that it is reviewing this along with its cabinet colleague, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
"That is something that I am obviously working on with my colleague Matt Hancock in the Department of Health and Social Assistance because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue supporting everyone along the lines of front on the NHS, "he said.
The minister had previously announced a free visa extension for NHS doctors whose visa was due to expire in October, so they have "peace of mind" as they fight the deadly virus in the country's hospitals.
In his daily briefing on Saturday, Patel also urged the British public to continue "staying strong" and abide by the closure measures to support the NHS in its fight against the spread of COVID-19.
She said: “We must be sure that we can continue to protect the NHS. That there is a sustained and constant drop in daily mortality rates … we all have a role to play in lifting our country out of this crisis.
"Therefore, I urge you all to stay strong and embrace that spirit of national unity by following the advice: stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives."
It also issued a warning to criminals seeking to exploit the current shutdown situation, as it revealed that the reported losses from coronavirus fraud are now £ 2.4m.
The minister said: “Auto crime, shoplifting and shoplifting are all lower than in the same period since this past year. But we also know that the most sophisticated criminals continue to exploit and capitalize on this horrendous crisis.
So today I have a message for them: Our world-class law enforcement is also adapting, and they are against it. And their efforts are paying off. "
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