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Overseas Doctor





Why draw a difference?

OTDs are, rightly or wrongly, considered to have skills that are weaker than those of local doctors. Regardless, they will often experience difficulties with culture and language differences. OTDs are often subject to a glass ceiling, unable to obtain promotion beyond the lowest-ranking jobs. They may experience the following restrictions through policy and regulation:

  • Prohibition from joining specialty training programs.

  • Prohibition from joining locum agencies.

  • Conditional registration that prohibits them from employment other than in a specific role at a specific hospital.

  • For the previous two reasons, inability to negotiate wages that are higher than the minimum.



Countries that employ overseas doctors

In the United Kingdom , overseas doctors come from outside the European Union . Overseas doctors' contribution to the NHS has been significant since the 1960's. 17% of consultants are from India , which is a major contributor of overseas doctors. Recently one study has shown that 30%-40% of junior doctors (the Senior House Officer s, Pre-registration House Officer s and Trust Doctor s) are from overseas.
Recently there is a backlash from local graduates against the overseas doctors as the number of doctors passing Professional And Linguistic Assessment Board Test (PLAB) and coming into the country is disproportionate to the number of training posts available.
Overseas doctors who pass PLAB exam may have to sometimes wait for up to a year to get their first job.

In Australia , OTDs make up the backbone of Emergency Department medical staff.