21 November 2003

Irish College of Psychiatrists Want Solution
to Non EU Doctor Issue

The Irish College of Psychiatrists is concerned about the delay in finding a solution to the issue of certification required for non EU doctors – so that they can train in psychiatry in Ireland. Non EU doctors constitute an important part of the workforce in mental health services.

The Medical Council require a certification of completion of basic training in order that Non EU doctors obtain full registration and are permitted to practice. The Irish Psychiatric Training Committee (IPTC) regulations are that this ‘certification of completion of training’ is the MRCpsych. The IPTC have written to the Medical Council requesting that this be changed to a ‘certificate of satisfactory performance ‘over a specified period. The Medical Council has indicated that the rules have been published as a statutory instrument having been approved by the Minister for Health and Children and any variations in these rules will require the consent of the Minister.

"We urge the Minister, the Medical Council and the IPTC to find a solution to this issue as a matter of urgency, as there are likely to be manpower problems in psychiatry in the near future", Dr. Kate Ganter, Chairperson of Irish College said today. "It is clear to us that acceptable certification of satisfactory performance over a specified time should be deemed as acceptable to the Medical Council if supported by the Minister."