Over 20,000 Internationally Trained Doctors Registered, Doubling UK Graduate Registrations Amid NHS Workforce Concerns
A historic total of 20,060 migrant doctors joined the UK medical register last year, more than doubling the 10,384 new registrations by UK medical graduates, according to the General Medical Council’s 2025 annual workforce report.
The report underscores the crucial role internationally trained doctors play in sustaining the National Health Service (NHS), comprising around 42% of the UK’s practicing doctors, with approximately 138,405 doctors qualified abroad currently in the workforce.
Despite the record influx, the report notes a slight leveling off in new migrant doctor registrations, an increase of roughly 500 compared to the previous year’s totals.
Meanwhile, NHS faces rising challenges as 4,880 internationally qualified doctors left the UK workforce last year, marking a 26% increase from 3,869 departures in 2023, raising concerns about retention and service continuity.
There is a significant surge in migrant doctors applying for junior doctor training programs across specialties like surgery, pediatrics, and general practice, with applications more than tripling over five years.
Of the 12,716 junior doctor training posts offered, over one-third (4,406) went to non-UK graduates, up from 21% in 2020 to 28% in 2024, highlighting reliance on international talent in training pipelines.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed commitment to reducing NHS dependence on overseas doctors by increasing domestic training places and improving working conditions, targeting a gradual shift by 2027.
Experts warn that any substantial drop in migrant doctor numbers without increased homegrown replacements could create major gaps in the NHS healthcare workforce.
