The UK government's proposal to increase fees for migrant workers accessing the state healthcare system, in order to support public-sector salary raises, has faced criticism from the country's oldest medical union. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration recently approved recommendations to raise the pay of teachers, doctors, and police officers by 5.0 to 7.0 percent.
To fund these salary increases, Sunak ruled out raising taxes or borrowing from the government and instead proposed raising funds through increases in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and visa fees, which are expected to generate £1 billion. However, this plan has been strongly opposed by physicians in Unite, a union representing junior doctors, general practitioners, and hospital consultants. They expressed their "appalled" response to the proposal, which would require migrants to pay twice as much to access the National Health Service (NHS).
Unite doctors argued that migrants, like other workers, already contribute to NHS funding through general taxation, and doubling the NHS surcharge to over £1,200 per year would impose an unjust additional penalty. They criticized the move as "immoral and divisive," claiming that migrants are effectively being taxed twice to access the same healthcare services.
The Immigration Health Surcharge, originally introduced to discourage "medical tourism," is now paid by the majority of migrants as entrance regulations have tightened post-Brexit. It is an additional payment made per person in addition to visa fees for stays longer than six months. Currently, individuals over 18 pay £624 per year, while students and those under 18 pay £470.
Under the government's proposal, the IHS for adults would increase to £1,035, with a reduced rate of £776. Additionally, work and visit visas would see a 15% increase, while student visas, leave-to-remain visas, and others would rise by at least 20%.
Critics argue that these fee hikes, which will be borne by individuals or businesses, will worsen understaffing issues in various industries and potentially drive high-skilled professionals and students away. Organizations like Praxis, a migrant and refugee organization, have accused the government of treating non-UK-born individuals as "cash cows" at a time when they already face steep visa renewal fees. The Wellcome Sanger Institute, a genomics research institute, estimated it would spend over £300,000 on immigration costs for its employees in 2023. Concerns have been raised about the impact of these fee increases on global talent and the field of science both within the UK and internationally.
As of May, official data suggests that net migration in the UK is projected to reach a record high of 606,000 in 2023, adding further pressure on the government, which has committed to reducing reliance on foreign labor. Prime Minister Sunak has described legal immigration as "too high" and is also grappling with a surge in asylum requests from migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.UKll boats.
