On Thursday 7 May, the European Commission published guidelines for Member States to speed up the recognition of professional qualifications of health workers, but also to clarify the rules allowing doctors and nurses in training to practise their profession.
The objective of the institution is clear: to address the shortage of health workers caused by the coronavirus health crisis. The Commission wants to address practical concerns regarding the implementation of the European Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2013/55/EU), which, as a reminder, aims to facilitate the free movement of professionals, in particular doctors and nurses, in Europe.
More specifically, the guidelines indicate how Member States can speed up procedures to facilitate the mutual recognition of qualifications. They also provide guidance on how Member States can ensure that the rules of the Directive on minimum requirements for the training of doctors and nurses are properly complied with, in particular when students are unable to complete their training because of the Covid-19 crisis.
To consult the guidelines: https://bit.ly/3c8sKk1. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)