UK visa surcharge for overseas doctors under review, says Priti Patel

A surcharge added on to work visas of overseas healthcare workers, including those from India, within state-funded National Health Service, is under review as y battle against coronavirus pandemic, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Saturday.

Indian-origin Cabinet minister, who led daily Downing Street briefing, was asked about this long-standing demand within medical community, which has been lobbying against additional financial burden on doctors and nurses already contributing directly to NHS.

"We have a range of measures that are, like most things in government, under review, and we are looking at everything including visa surcharge,” she said.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), introduced in April 2015, is imposed on anyone in UK on a work, study or family visa for longer than six months in order to raise additional funds for NHS. Earlier this year, it was furr hiked from 400 pounds to 624 pounds per year.

British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) are among bodies lobbying against what has been branded as an “unfair and discriminatory” charge on overseas medics who pay ir tax dues while contributing to NHS.

w, Patel has indicated that she is reviewing this along with her Cabinet colleague, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"That is something that obviously I am working with my colleague Matt Hancock in Department of Health and Social Care because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue to support everyone on front line in NHS," she said.

minister had earlier anunced a free-of-charge visa extension for NHS medics whose visa was set to expire by October, in order for m to have "peace of mind" as y combat deadly virus across country’s hospitals.

In her daily briefing on Saturday, Patel also urged British public to continue to “stay strong” and abide by lockdown measures in order to support NHS in its fight against spread of COVID-19.

She said: “We must be sure that we can continue to protect NHS. That re is a sustained and consistent fall in daily rates of death… we all have a role to play in pulling our country out of this crisis.

“So, I urge you all to stay strong and embrace that spirit of national unity by continuing to follow advice: to stay at home, to protect NHS and save lives.”

She also issued a warning to criminals looking to exploit current lockdown situation, as she revealed that reported losses for coronavirus fraud w stands at 2.4 million pounds.

minister said: “Car crime, burglary and shoplifting are all lower than in same period from this time last year. But we also kw that most sophisticated criminals continue to exploit and capitalise on this horrendous crisis.

“So today, I have a mess for m: our world-class law enforcement is also adapting, and y are onto you. And ir efforts are paying off.”