Healthcare Professionals Crossing Borders

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Healthcare Professionals Crossing Borders
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CEPLIS Health Working Group, BrusselsFriday 24
March 2006
Claire Herbert, Project Lead Health Professionals
Crossing Borders Strategy and Planning General
Medical Council
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Introduction

• Background to HPCB
• The UK Presidency
• Edinburgh Agreement
• Implementation Phase
• Key project themes
• Long term aim

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Background to the project

• The context
• Free movement of workers
• Patient Safety
• Information sharing on fitness to practise and
  collaboration between competent authorities
• Dutch Presidency 2004
• Directive (2005/36/EC) Recognition of
  Professional Qualifications

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UK Presidency

• The UK Government took up the Presidency of the
  EC in July 2005, focusing on several key themes
  including patient safety. This theme was led by
  the Department of Health, one initiative of which
  was HPCB.
• Establishment of European Working Group
• Focus on 3 related strands of activity
• Drafting of The Agreement.
• European Conference

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Edinburgh Agreement

• European Conference held in Edinburgh
• Discussion of text containing nine Agreements
• Certificate of Current Professional Status
• Case-by-case information exchange
• Proactive exchange of information
• Criminal records
• Pending Cases
• Supporting information exchange
• Overwhelming support across all competent
  authorities and European member states.

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Implementation Phase

• Continue European level collaboration
• Clarify project approach
• Work in conjunction with European Commission
  developments and discussions
• Implement the Agreement across all member states
  by 2007.

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Key project themes

• Genuine European-wide focus
• Partnership emphasis
• Promotion of free movement in context of patient
  safety
• Building a strong consensus
• Strong collaboration between competent
  authorities
• Implementation of The Agreement by 2007

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Long Term View

• Contribution of project to patient safety in
  Europe and free movement of health care
  professionals.
• Improved and sustained communication between
  healthcare competent authorities across the EU
  and EEA.
• Implementation in context of RPQ Directive.

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Further information

• Claire Herbert, Regulation Policy Adviser, GMC
  cherbert_at_gmc-uk.org
• Website detailing healthcare competent
  authorities
• www.healthregulation.org