The Government has succumbed to pressure, including from its own back benchers, and agreed to scrap the immigration health surcharge for NHS workers. The surcharge requires migrants to pay £400 per year to access the NHS despite the fact that they already contribute through the payment of income tax and nationality insurance contributions. Following this afternoon’s announcement, migrant NHS workers will now be exempt from paying the fee which is due to rise to £624 later this year. With the true value and importance of the UK’s migrant workforce across all sectors being highlighted during the current covid-19 pandemic, it is surely time for the Government to have a rethink and scrap the surcharge in its entirety.
NHS fees to be scrapped for overseas NHS staff
