Abstract
Background: Migration of non-EEA doctors to EEA-countries has become a common phenomenon. As coordination within the
EEA has not yet been established, every EEA-country is re-inventing the wheel of assessment of foreign medical degrees and
developing additional programmes for non-EEA doctors. There is hardly any knowledge about assessment procedures in other
EEA-countries.
Aim: To examine how 10 European Economic Area (EEA) countries deal with non-EEA doctors. Both national and university
policies regarding non-EEA doctors were examined.
Methods: This was a qualitative study based on two structured questionnaires. One was used for staff members of national health
departments and the other was used for staff members of university medical faculties. Staff members from the health departments
of mid-European and north European countries, and staff members from universities in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Norway, Sweden, UK, Spain, and The Netherlands participated in the study.
Results: There is no EEA directive concerning non-EEA doctors. Each EEA country, therefore, has devised its own policy towards
non-EEA doctors. To enable non-EEA doctors to obtain a full license, thereby preventing them from ending up as unskilled
labourers, the health departments in the Nordic countries and the UK have developed a ‘fast-track’ process for non-EEA doctors. In
Austria, Belgium, and The Netherlands, however, non-EEA doctors are more dependent on programmes offered by university
medical faculties. The situation in Germany is between these two extremes. As a rule, the programmes for non-EEA doctors in
Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands are two to three times longer than in the Nordic countries (18–36 months vs. 12–18
months, respectively). Financial aid is not available in most countries.
Conclusion: As the influx of non-EEA doctors is increasing, harmonisation within the EEA is strongly advisable. As long as there is
no EEA directive about non-EEA doctors, the assessment procedures (diploma evaluation, medical-knowledge tests, language
requirements, length of additional programmes, etc.) need to be coordinated.
EEA has not yet been established, every EEA-country is re-inventing the wheel of assessment of foreign medical degrees and
developing additional programmes for non-EEA doctors. There is hardly any knowledge about assessment procedures in other
EEA-countries.
Aim: To examine how 10 European Economic Area (EEA) countries deal with non-EEA doctors. Both national and university
policies regarding non-EEA doctors were examined.
Methods: This was a qualitative study based on two structured questionnaires. One was used for staff members of national health
departments and the other was used for staff members of university medical faculties. Staff members from the health departments
of mid-European and north European countries, and staff members from universities in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Norway, Sweden, UK, Spain, and The Netherlands participated in the study.
Results: There is no EEA directive concerning non-EEA doctors. Each EEA country, therefore, has devised its own policy towards
non-EEA doctors. To enable non-EEA doctors to obtain a full license, thereby preventing them from ending up as unskilled
labourers, the health departments in the Nordic countries and the UK have developed a ‘fast-track’ process for non-EEA doctors. In
Austria, Belgium, and The Netherlands, however, non-EEA doctors are more dependent on programmes offered by university
medical faculties. The situation in Germany is between these two extremes. As a rule, the programmes for non-EEA doctors in
Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands are two to three times longer than in the Nordic countries (18–36 months vs. 12–18
months, respectively). Financial aid is not available in most countries.
Conclusion: As the influx of non-EEA doctors is increasing, harmonisation within the EEA is strongly advisable. As long as there is
no EEA directive about non-EEA doctors, the assessment procedures (diploma evaluation, medical-knowledge tests, language
requirements, length of additional programmes, etc.) need to be coordinated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 383-389 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Medical Teacher |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Jul 2007 |
Keywords
- International Medical Graduates