The exact number of refugee doctors in Britain is not known. Estimates suggest there are at least 200, equivalent to the annual output of a typical medical school. The disproportionate number of doctors among refugees is a phenomenon that has been observed in earlier waves of exiles, notably those fleeing Germany and central Europe in the 1930s. Refugees have made substantial contributions to professional life in Britain, particularly in medicine and science.1 2 The profound and all embracing sense of loss experienced by refugees3 4 is compounded for the many who are professionals, who feel that their skills and knowledge are unused while they must depend on welfare.5 They represent a waste of human potential that deserves greater attention and action from the medical profession.
To practise in Britain doctors who qualified overseas must first gain limited registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) through one of four routes: sponsorship, membership of a royal college, passing the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) …
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