DoH considers change on tests

The Department of Health is examining an amendment to the Medical Practitioners Act to provide for the testing of language competence after qualification and prior to registration. There remains a cohort of EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA doctors in the public health service who are not currently required or have not been required to formally demonstrate their proficiency in the English language prior to registration or employment. The mooted legal change is in line with Directive 2013/55/EU, which modernises the current Directive 205/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. This is due to be transposed into Irish law by January 18, 2016.…