Medical staff standards set for approval

Date: 25/01/01

RULES making it easier for medical professionals to work anywhere in the Union are set for approval after MEPs backed down from demands that member states toughen standards for doctors' training.

Euro-MPs are no longer insisting that all general practitioners have at least three years' training on top of their basic education if they want the right to practise anywhere in the EU. Instead they have opted for rules which will require three years' additional training for GPs, except for doctors from Belgium and Finland, who currently need only two.

The compromise was reached in talks between the Parliament and member states held after the normal legislative process - two complete readings of the proposals - failed to produce agreement. MEPs, who will approve the deal in a full session of the assembly next week, are insisting that despite the concessions the result is a victory for them and will help improve medical standards across the Union.

In addition to securing changes to the original European Commission proposals on GPs' basic qualifications, the assembly has convinced member states to make sure medical professionals undergo additional training throughout their careers - although the details of this continuing education will be left up to individual countries."The European Parliament's position at second reading, aiming to improve the qualifications of doctors, is well reflected in the outcome of the conciliation," said German centre right MEP Rainer Wieland, the assembly's rapporteur on the subject.

The proposed laws on mutual recognition of professional qualifications across the Union will mean doctors and also nurses, midwives, pharmacists and veterinarians who become qualified in one member state are entitled to practise in any other.

Rules making ir easier for medical professionals to work anywhere in the Union are set for approval after MEPs backed down from demands that Member States toughen standards for doctors' training.