A Proposed New UK Visa Could Attract More Nigerian Doctors and Nurses

The UK Government has announced that it intends to create a fast-track route for migrants in the health service.

A Proposed New UK Visa Could Attract More Nigerian Doctors and Nurses

Immigration consultants Breytenbachs said that the new fast-track visa has been dubbed the ‘NHS visa’ as it aims to attract more migrants to work in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

The UK Government hopes that this new visa will offset a possible fall in NHS workers from the UK, due to Brexit, it said.

“The NHS visa will allow the UK Government to control immigration, while at the same time ensuring that there is not a skills shortage in the health service.

About 153,000 of 1.2 million health workers are non-British, and critics have said the end of freedom of movement for EU citizens after Brexit would deprive the NHS, one of the world’s largest employers, of a vital pool of workers, Reuters reported.

“The visa will cost £464 (₦218,080). The cost is half the normal visa fee. The visa process will also be fast-tracked, and persons can expect decisions on their visas within two weeks.

Here’s the Number of Nigerians that Currently Live in the Uk

“Applicants for the NHS visa will be liable to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £400 (₦188,000) per year. It is, however, not clear yet, whether the NHS visa will operate outside the Tier 2 immigration route,” it said.

The NHS visa comes in the aftermath of some other exciting announcements for the UK immigration landscape, said Breytenbachs.

“In the second half of 2019, the UK Government has announced its intention to create a new fast-track visa for individuals with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

“They also intend to create a new immigration route for overseas graduates, which will enable them to stay for two years after their studies.”

It comes at a time when healthcare professionals in Nigeria have expressed concerns about the poor conditions of Nigeria’s health care, bad remuneration and deteriorating hospital facilities, too much work load.

A medical officer at a General Hospital in Nigeria, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “At times when people hear that doctors go abroad for greener pastures, all they think is the money, but I tell you money is not everything. Conditions of our work are overwhelming. That is why suicide and depression are common among those of us that are still in the system.”

Nigerian Medical Association recently revealed that about 700 doctors leave Nigeria annually. Also that as many as one in five healthcare workers have already taken steps to emigrate.

Uzonna Anele
Uzonna Anele
Anele is a web developer and a Pan-Africanist who believes bad leadership is the only thing keeping Africa from taking its rightful place in the modern world.

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  1. […] to promote the free movement of people within Africa, the government of Nigeria has changed its visa […]

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