Study raises questions over discrimination in GP exam

27 Sep 2013 Concerns over discrimination in the UK general practitioner examination are raised in a study by The University of Manchester published on bmj.com today. Concerns over discrimination in the UK general practitioner examination are raised in a study by The University of Manchester published on bmj.com today (Thurs 26 September). Academic performance of ethnic minority candidates in the national MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) examinations between 2010 and 2012 was analysed in the study. The researchers, based in The University's Institute of Population Health, say they cannot rule out "subjective bias owing to racial discrimination” in the exam and call for additional training for international medical graduates to help them adapt to the UK health care system. The University of Manchester research is published on the same day as a BMJ Careers investigation which reveals that ethnic minority doctors are less successful in securing NHS hospital posts than white doctors. In order to practise as an accredited general practitioner (family physician) in the UK, doctors must pass the MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) examination. But concerns have been raised about the high failure rate of ethnic minority candidates.