British Medical Association warns government proposals to charge migrants for using NHS are unworkable and potentially damaging to the health service
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that government proposals to charge migrants for using the NHS are impractical, uneconomic and could damage the health service.
Following its response to the government's recent consultations on migrant and short term visitor access to the NHS, the BMA today released a press release saying it had serious concerns over the proposed scheme.
Dr Mark Porter, Chair of BMA Council, said in the press release that the NHS does not have the infrastructure or resources to administrate a charging system that is not likely to produce enough revenue to cover the cost of setting up its own bureaucracy.
"The government needs to rethink it is entire approach to this issue as in their current form these proposals are unworkable and potentially damaging to the NHS," Porter continued.
The Independent quoted the BMA's response to the government consultation as saying: "It is our view that doctors should not be required to make judgements on the immigration status of patients or their entitlement to treatment under the regulations."
Today's BMA press release listed the following specific concerns:
• There is no evidence that the income derived from charging short term visitors or migrants would be sufficient to cover the significant cost of the increased bureaucracy necessary to administer the system.
• It is difficult to see how extending charging to general practice could be implemented without ensuring every patient was checked by their GP practice when they register, resulting in inconvenience for all patients and an increased administrative burden on already over stretched GP services.
• There is no explanation of what documentation patients will need to use to prove they have permanent residency. There is no obligation for UK residents to hold a passport and the documentation some practices currently require, such as utility bills, would not prove permanent resident status.
• Forcing non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants, and any dependents, to make a contribution to their healthcare costs could reduce the likelihood of highly skilled migrants coming to work in the UK.
• If migrants and short term visitors are deterred from seeing a GP, it may become more difficult for the NHS to identify communicable diseases such as TB. This could increase public health risks for the wider population and result in increased stress on NHS services.
• The BMA agrees with the government that care should not be denied to patients who require immediate treatment, but the current proposals do raise ethical concerns. For example, charging could deter patients from seeking emergency care and could make them reluctant to bring their children to a GP practice or emergency care department.