New partnership for NHS to bring on 1,000 ‘much needed’ senior doctors by 2025

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 three-month 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 one or two-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. 

Professor Parag Singhal, CEO of Bapio Training Academy and Consultant Endocrinologist, commented: “We are excited about partnering with TERN to deliver an accelerated training scheme for doctors in India to be placed in the UK. 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, four times 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.”

Avi Nigam, co-founder of TERN Group, added: “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.”