Confidence in the quality of dental qualifications, whether acquired in Europe or beyond, is essential to facilitate a proper recognition.
For this reason, the European Dental Regulators and Competent Authorities gathered in FEDCAR welcome the proposed decision on a “European Year of Skills 2023” and its ambition for “promoting tools and instruments for increased transparency of qualifications, including qualifications awarded outside the Union” (draft Article 3(1)(g)).
While attracting qualified third-country nationals may be seen by some as an additional way to help to address skills and labour shortages in the EU -and the 2024 report “Health at a Glance” focusses again on the health workforce crisis-, this must be done without compromising patient health safety.
Each country has indeed autonomy to decide on the procedure and conditions for the recognition of third-country health professions qualifications but this procedure varies greatly between States : In addition to the theoretical examination (written, oral) and practical examination that FEDCAR recommends as a basic standard, some countries consider it is also needed to add some induction period or compensation measures.
Therefore, FEDCAR’s Regulators and Competent Dental Authorities recall the recognition of dental qualifications obtained outside the European Union must at a strict minimum correspond to the applicable European requirements (Directive 2005/36 EC), knowing that some prudent countries apply measures going beyond this minimum standard.
This minimum requirement is mandatory :
- not only to meet the criteria for obtaining the European Blue Card for third-country nationals,
- but above all to guarantee confidence in the oral health competence of the practitioner,
- and to maintain confidence in the free movement of professionals in the EU.
The guarantee for the patient of a high-quality oral health care must not be questioned in any way, regardless of the origin of the qualification.
It is in this light that FEDCAR’s dental regulators and competent authorities support the “European Year of Competence 2023” and “the transparency of qualifications, including those issued outside the EU”.
Adopted in Madrid in General Assembly on 5 May 2023
