London: An anti-discrimination case brought by an organisation representing Indian-origin doctors in the UK will be heard by the British High Court later this month. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) is bringing the judicial review against the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and General Medical Council (GMC) over claims that the college's membership exam (MRCGP) discriminates against minority ethnic candidates. Doctors must pass the MRCGP exam to practise as general physicians in the UK. The BAPIO won a minor victory last year when Justice Patterson ruled that the GMC should be included in the action because of its duty as public sector body to ensure equality. She had said it was "arguable" that the GMC had failed to ensure equality but added that the regulator would not have to answer claims of direct or indirect discrimination. The RCGP, however, will face discrimination claims when the judicial review is heard later this month.

Studies released last year found that white candidates are four times more likely to pass the exam first time than minority ethnic candidates trained in the UK, and 14 times more likely than candidates trained overseas. Concerns have focused on the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA), which includes a mock consultation with an actor posing as the patient. Following a six-month review, a British Medical Journal (BMJ) report last year concluded that while there was no hard evidence of racism, "subjective bias owing to racial discrimination" in the marking of the CSA could not be ruled out as a reason for the differences in outcomes. "We believe the judicial review will be successful. This report will assist us because it has confirmed the facts and the facts are that there are disproportionate pass rates for ethnic minority doctors. We want fairness and equal treatment," said BAPIO president Dr Ramesh Mehta. The group's legal fees have already hit an estimated 50,000 pounds but it has refused to back down over the issue. It is also assisting a number of individual claims brought before tribunals by Indian-origin doctors. The RCGP strongly denies allegations the MRCGP is discriminatory.