Low pay, high taxes, visa woes: Why Indian doctors are choosing Australia and West Asia over UK

Representational Image

Indian doctors are increasingly choosing Australia, Canada, and West Asia over the UK due to lower salaries, high taxes, stricter immigration, and fewer opportunities in the NHS, making the UK less attractive for long-term careers than before.

Did our AI summary help?

For decades, the United Kingdom was seen by Indian doctors as a natural second home, shaped by shared history, recognised qualifications and the global reputation of the National Health Service. That attraction is now fading. Indian medical professionals are increasingly choosing Australia, Canada and West Asia over the UK, driven not by dissatisfaction with clinical work, but by shrinking financial rewards and tightening immigration pathways.

Senior Indian origin doctors working in the NHS told PTI that recent policy changes have made the UK a difficult place to plan a long term future. Official data presented in India’s Parliament shows that Health and Care Worker visas issued to Indian nationals fell by around 67 per cent, with an even sharper drop of nearly 79 per cent among nurses.

Rajay Narain, a senior NHS cardiologist with over two decades of experience, said the shift is largely economic. “Many graduates are leaving the UK as salaries there are lower compared with those offered in some European countries. Recent data indicate that Indian origin healthcare professionals are increasingly choosing to work abroad, attracted by better pay, higher standards of living, and comparatively lower taxes,” he told PTI.

Narain recalled that the NHS was once regarded as one of the world’s leading healthcare systems, but said the appeal has weakened over time. “Over time, however, it has faced numerous challenges, including long waiting lists for patients requiring procedures,” he said, adding that many British Indian doctors are now returning to India or moving elsewhere for better prospects.

Radiologist Sanjay Gandhi, who works in the NHS in south west England, said migration policy is a major factor. “As controlling illegal immigration has proven difficult, legal migrants, including those working in the NHS, often face the impact of these policies,” he said. He added that competition from locally trained doctors has intensified, while training and job positions have not kept pace.

Gandhi also pointed to barriers faced by overseas doctors. “The General Medical Council has been directed to limit the number of PLAB tests, which are costly, and even for those who pass, job security is limited,” he said.

High taxation has added to the pressure. Senior NHS consultants can pay 45 per cent income tax, along with national insurance and pension contributions, significantly reducing take home pay.

NHS pulmonologist Manish Gautam said opportunities have narrowed further after the pandemic. “Pathways for overseas healthcare professionals have largely reduced, while resident doctor posts now attract hundreds of applications within hours,” he told PTI.

With Australia, New Zealand and West Asia offering higher salaries, clearer residency options and lower tax burdens, many Indian doctors now see the UK as a stepping stone rather than a destination.