Overview
- Asterix Health says eight doctors based in Australia, Malaysia, India and the UK are supporting seven GP practices serving about 250,000 patients.
- The firm is advertising a “remote NHS GP” role in Malaysia with work conducted from home or from an office in Kuala Lumpur.
- The NHS 10-Year Plan proposes exploring deployment of UK-registered professionals working abroad to provide remote services to patients.
- A Department of Health spokesman says the plan advances digital care while GP practices should still offer face-to-face appointments, and an NHS spokesman says the pilot is not endorsed by NHS England.
- Critics, including Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew and the BMA’s GP committee chair, warn of risks to continuity and call‑centre style care, as Asterix’s CEO argues the model retains UK-trained clinicians and frees time for in‑person consultations.