The GMC looks set to reduce the regularity with which it offers exams to overseas doctors.
Although no final decision has been taken yet, it is likely that the regulator will reduce the number of days it offers PLAB part 2 (which allows overseas trained doctors entry onto the medical register) from four days a week to three.
The move will help ease the unemployment situation among juniors, which has seen overseas doctors and even some UK-trained doctors unable to get training posts.
However, the GMC said the decision would only reflect changes in demand. The number of doctors sitting PLAB part 1 in the first five months of this year is 30 per cent lower than the 2004 figure, so a drop-off in demand for PLAB 2 is now expected.
Chairman of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Dr Rahmesh Mehta said the move was good news for unemployed doctors.
'We're delighted that the GMC is beginning to see some sense. This will certainly help in the medium term, but the situation continues to be critical,' he said.
Dr Mehta said he was also hopeful that the GMC may now make the move to offer PLAB part 2 overseas.
A GMC spokesperson said this was being considered as part of an ongoing review of PLAB.
Overseas matching scheme sought
The BMA and British International Doctors Association are hoping the NHS will consider the introduction of a national matching programme for overseas graduates. The proposed scheme would help alleviate current levels of unemployment among graduates, the bodies said in a joint discussion paper published last week. Under the proposed system, overseas doctors would apply from their home country via the scheme for a limited number of posts. They would only need to come to the UK to sit Part 2 of PLAB if they had obtained a provisional post

Best wishes
Dr Philip Hardo

المشاركة الأصلية بواسطة Philip Hardo

overseas doctors would apply from their home country via the scheme for a limited number of posts.

I don't know ... is this a good news?
Yes I think,
Dr. Hardo, are you a british? you don't seem to be an arabic man !!! do you?

Dear Shankool, if this is what you want to be called)
Ramadan Kareem
I am Syrian doctor lived in the UK for 25 years. I qualified from Aleppo Medical School, which I admire. My aim is to try and help the medical students with medical, professional and ethical issues that are relevant to practice.
After many years of living abroad I feel more comfortable in writing in English than Arabic plus I don’t have the Arabic system on my hospital computer.
My best wishes to all my colleagues and friends in Aleppo
Dr Philip Hardo MRCP
Consultant Gastroenterologist
Kent
UK

You'r welcome Dr.Hardo
I would thank you for your aims
Our students need a lot of help efforts
thanks

you are welcome here Dr.hardo,and we would be very grateful for your help, especially after those complicated procedures we are supposed to do after plab exams, besides the few chances of getting a job
over there.

Dear Medical student

Information is powr. So the more you know abot the systeme the better for you

Berst wishes

Dr Philip Hardo