英国国民医疗服务体系(NHS)英格兰分部已停止医学培训倡议(MTI)计划，该计划允许来自巴基斯坦、斯里兰卡和尼泊尔等低收入和中等收入国家的医学毕业生在英国医院接受长达两年的培训[1]。英国医学皇家学院对这一突然决定表示失望，认为该计划是英国软实力的体现[1]。
MTI计划自2011年启动以来，每年资助费用仅为£176,000，惠及约400至500名外国培训医生获得英国医院实习机会[1]。NHS英格兰进行的内部审查称该计划"未达到预期目的"，理由是部分外国医生留在英国而未返回本国[1]。审查还发现该计划存在工资剥削证据——外国医生的薪酬低于相同岗位的英国医生[1]。
NHS方面允许已在英国的MTI医生完成实习，且3月前提交申请的候选人仍可获得名额，之后该计划将停止[1]。医学皇家学院主席指出，NHS过度依赖国际医学毕业生，这些毕业生占据了NHS医疗人员的五分之二[1]。
Britain's National Health Service has discontinued the Medical Training Initiative (MTI), a program that enabled medical graduates from low- and middle-income countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to undertake up to two years of clinical training in UK hospitals.[1] The Royal Colleges of Physicians have expressed dismay at the abrupt termination, describing the scheme as a reflection of British soft power that had provided practical UK healthcare experience to thousands of overseas doctors since its launch in 2011.[1]
An internal NHS England review concluded that the program had failed to meet its objectives, citing evidence that some international doctors remained in Britain rather than returning home.[1] The review also uncovered signs of wage exploitation, with foreign medical trainees earning less than their British counterparts in equivalent positions.[1] The initiative required only £176,000 in annual funding from NHS England and had facilitated placement opportunities for approximately 400 to 500 foreign trainee doctors each year.[1]
Those already enrolled in the MTI program will be permitted to complete their placements, and candidates who applied before March remain eligible for positions; the scheme will cease accepting new applications thereafter.[1] According to the Royal Colleges, NHS England has become heavily dependent on international medical graduates, who now constitute two-fifths of the health service's medical workforce.[1]