Understanding what the General Medical Council (GMC) is and how it relates to medical practitioners working in the UK, including International Medical Graduates (IMG). By Rob Hendry, Medical Director at Medical Protection.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is a key organisation and one that you’ll become familiar with if you choose to pursue a career in the NHS.

The GMC’s primary role is to protect patients and improve medical education and practice across the UK – they basically act as the gatekeepers of who can and cannot practise – but they also offer a wealth of support, especially for International Medical Graduates (IMG).

Here's a little about what the GMC do and how you will come into contact with them.

They provide your licence to practise

To practise medicine in the UK you need a licence issued by the GMC. With this you can prescribe medicine and treat patients. Once you have a licence you must regularly prove to the GMC that you’ve kept your knowledge and skills up to date. This process of checking your practice is known as revalidation.

To stay on the GMC register as you progress in your career, you’ll need to continue following good medical practice, keep your contact details updated and also pay an annual fee.

They set the standards of good practice

All doctors in the UK are expected to follow the values, knowledge, skills and behaviours laid out by the GMC. They are responsible for setting the professional standards and medical ethics of the industry, and as such, they ensure that excellent patient service is delivered.

The GMC has a dedicated section of their website containing all the ethical guidance support and learning resources you will need, including examples of the ethical issues that doctors often ask about.

The National Induction Programme for IMGs

Working in collaboration with the NHS, the British Medical Association and Medical Protection, the GMC has helped to develop a new standardised induction programme for IMGs.

Welcoming and Valuing International Medical Graduates: A guide to induction for IMGs recruited to the NHS has been designed around the needs of IMGs and ensures that all new recruits to the NHS feel welcomed, valued, and supported as they transition to UK clinical practice.

The programme explains what type of induction NHS Trusts should provide new IMG employees with. It includes guidance on delivering a welcome and pastoral induction, professional practice induction, IT and electronic patient record systems induction and language and communication induction.

They offer support for IMGs

In addition to their role of monitoring who can and cannot practise in the UK, the GMC also offer a wealth of support for IMGs looking to work in the NHS. They have a very detailed guide on their website which explains every consideration to make when pursuing a career in the UK, and the role that the GMC plays along the way.

The areas they cover include types of registration, how to register, the evidence you need to provide and what you need to do before practising.

They provide workshops specifically for IMGs

One of the most valuable resources offered by the GMC is their workshop created to help anyone coming to the UK adapt to life here as a doctor.

Titled 'Welcome to UK Practice' these free workshops delivered both virtually and in-person, use real-life ethical scenarios to share expert guidance and knowledge. With the help of a dedicated outreach team who are on hand to answer any questions you may have, you will build your confidence ahead of practising in a new environment.

Find out more about the Welcome to UK Practice workshops.

They are a partner throughout your entire career

The GMC website is constantly updated with the very latest news, reports and insights into medical practice in the UK. This makes it an invaluable resource for you to revisit regularly to ensure you stay up to date with everything from your industry.

About the author

Rob Hendry is Medical Director at Medical Protection, working with members around the world. He has a particular interest in supporting doctors who move between different countries and has championed Medical Protection’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy.