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Health
Professional
Qualifications
John Bowis welcomed
a vote in the European Parliament (11th February 2004) that will
shape future reforms of the professional qualifications regime.
The new proposals are intended to strengthen the rights of European
citizens to have their qualifications recognised in any EU country.
John Bowis successfully
campaigned to scrap controversial provisions that would have allowed
professionals, including doctors, to work for 16 weeks in another
country without having their qualifications checked. This could
have allowed rogue or incompetent doctors to practice for up to
4 months before being subject to national authorities' vetting.
John Bowis said,
"Many amendments affecting the health professions have been
accepted. We have ensured that professionals treating patients have
to meet appropriate and consistent standards, including language
competence. Once these have been met, their freedom to work across
the EU will be strengthened by this package. Protecting the interests
of patients has been a key priority. Patients deserve to know that
doctors and other health professionals from another EU country who
work in the UK have been properly checked and their qualifications
are valid."
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