The number of foreign medical graduates from Muslim-majority countries coming to the United States to become doctors has declined by 15 per cent under the Trump administration, exacerbating shortages in America's physician workforce, a study said Monday.
International medical graduates represent about a quarter of practicing doctors in the United States.
They are required to take several licensing exams and then complete two or three years of training to practice medicine in the United States.
Overall, citizens from Muslim-majority nations made up 4.5 percent of the US physician workforce in 2019, with Pakistan, Egypt and Iran historically providing the bulk.
The number of graduates from Islamic nations applying for certification in the United States rose from 2009-2015, peaking at 4,244, before falling steadily to 3,604 in 2018 -- a decline of 15 percent.
A small drop occurred in 2016, the year in which Trump was elected but his predecessor Barack Obama was still in office, before hastening in 2017 and 2018.
The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and was led John Boulet, vice president of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates that oversees the certification process.
Boulet and colleagues said that recent US policies, such as the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries "affect the inflow of IMGs International Medical Graduates) by restricting travel to the country for citizens from specific nations."
They added: "Even a perceived immigration ban could affect who chooses to complete the requirements for... certification" while potential difficulty obtaining a visa could dissuade the program directors of medical residencies from making a job offer.
The US demand for physicians has long outstripped supply for a variety of reasons, from population growth and aging, to a federal cap on funding for residency training.
As a result, the United States could see a shortage of as many as 122,000 doctors by the year 2032, according to a 2019 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Some economists also argue that the short supply of doctors has led to a surge in their wages -- costs that are eventually passed down to patients.
"To the extent that citizens from some countries no longer seek residency positions in the US, gaps in the physician workforce could widen," the authors said.
The attractiveness of the United States as a destination may have also waned in comparison to other countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Britain, the authors wrote.
Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability.
Leicester hosted scaled-back celebrations without fireworks after a safety review.
Cities across England marked the festival with community events.
THE ROYAL Family and UK prime minister Keir Starmer shared Diwali greetings on Monday, as the High Commission of India in London highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability as key messages of the Festival of Lights.
“Wishing a very happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights in the UK and around the world,” reads a message from Buckingham Palace, shared across all its social media platforms.
Starmer also took to social media to wish “Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across Britain a joyful and peaceful Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas”. The prime minister, who attended the Gaza peace summit in Egypt during the Diwali festivities at 10 Downing Street last week, reflected on his visit to Mumbai earlier this month in his post.
“Earlier this month, I lit a diya in Mumbai as a symbol of devotion, joy, and renewed bonds. As we celebrate this Festival of Lights, let’s keep building a Britain where everyone can look ahead with hope,” he said.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch described the festival as a “celebration of light over darkness, hope over despair, and the power of family, community and faith”.
“Wishing a very Happy Diwali to all those celebrating the festival of lights in the UK, India, and around the world. May this Diwali bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to everyone,” said Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, in a video message, called Deepavali one of the central elements of India’s festive calendar.
“It is celebrated across all communities as an opportunity to bring together families and friends and celebrate the joys of the changing season, and the start of the cool season,” said Doraiswami.
“It is one of our most beloved festivals, not least because of the lights and traditional diyas that are lit up, but also for the opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Diwali these days is seen as an opportunity for an inclusive festival, a sustainable festival,” he said.
“Sustainability not just purely in the environmental sense with the use of renewables in our lights and displays, but also in terms of ensuring that you make it sustainable by bringing together all communities amongst whom you live,” he added.
“That is particularly applicable here in the United Kingdom as we celebrate the start of what is a longer festive season that continues right through to the end of the year,” he said.
Many of the annual Diwali festivities in the UK, including the Mayor of London’s Diwali on the Square, took place earlier this month.
In Leicester, known for its large-scale Diwali celebrations, this year’s event was scaled back with no fireworks display following a local council safety audit. The city’s Diwali Day celebrations were centred around a Wheel of Light — a 110-foot-high Ferris wheel on the Golden Mile at Belgrave Road — which was closed to traffic and lit up with thousands of colourful lights.
“We know that this year’s celebrations will feel different, but our priority must be the safety of the public,” said Councillor Vi Dempster, Leicester’s assistant city mayor for culture.
“We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We will be working with partners and the local community to explore options for how the city builds on its proud tradition of bringing our communities together to celebrate the Festival of Light,” she said.
Meanwhile, Basingstoke and Reading in southern England hosted outdoor Diwali celebrations organised by Kala the Arts over the weekend, attracting hundreds of people.
The events featured theatrical processions with illuminated puppets, dhol music, classical dance performances, and lantern installations as part of the free-to-attend festival, now in its fifth year.
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