In a bid to stop "health tourism", the NHS Trusts in England are going to charge immigrants to the UK more than their local counterparts for treatment.
The decision, originating in Whitehall, is believed to be an attempt to recover capital from the costly operations performed on migrants. Only a tiny amount of the £460 million procedures that are chargeable is actually recovered by the NHS.
From 2015 trusts will be able to charge 150 per cent more for the treatment of non-EU patients, while temporary migrants visiting the UK for less than six months will have to pay a surcharge.
The move has been described as a "carrot and stick" approach, enabling the NHS to quickly identify patients they can charge. Hospitals that fail to adhere to the new rules will be fined, it is heard.
A simplification of the registration process will also occur to save NHS staff the paperwork.
Plans have already been set in motion to charge migrants £200 when they apply to use the NHS in their visa.
"Without more detail, there are question marks over whether or not these proposals will be workable and if the NHS has the infrastructure and resources necessary to administrate a cost-effective charging system," Dr Mark Porter, chairmen of council at the British Medical Association, told the BBC.
"Plans to fine hospitals who fail to recoup costs would see them punished twice over, to the detriment of other services."
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