Minimum Training Conditions (Health Care Professions)

L.N. 175 of 2024

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS ACT

(CAP. 451)

Minimum Training Conditions (Health Care Professions)

(Amendment) Regulations, 2024

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 8 of the Mutual

Recognition of Qualifications Act, the Minister responsible for

education has made the following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is Minimum Training

Conditions (Health Care Professions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024

and these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the

Minimum Training Conditions (Health Care Professions) Regulations,

hereinafter referred to as "the principal regulations".

(2) The scope of these regulations is to transpose Article 28 of

Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

In sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2 of the principal

regulations, the words "Articles 24, 25, 31, 34, 35, 40 and 44" shall be

substituted by the words "Articles 24, 25, 28, 31, 34, 35, 40 and 44".

Immediately after regulation 9 of the principal regulations

there shall be added the following new regulation

(1) Admission to specific training in

general medical practice shall be contingent on the

completion and validation of six (6) years of study as part

of a training programme referred to in regulation 8

Provided that where the training programme

referred to in regulation 8 comprises of practical training

given by an approved hospital possessing appropriate

general medical equipment and services or as part of an

approved general medical practice or an approved centre

in which doctors provide primary medical care, the

duration of that practical training may, up to a maximum

of one (1) year, be included in the duration provided in

this sub-regulation, for certificates of training issued on

or after 1st January 2006.

(2) The specific training in general medical

practice leading to the award of evidence of formal

qualifications issued before 1st January 2006 shall be of a

duration of at least two (2) years on a full-time basis. In

the case of evidence of formal qualifications issued after

that date, the training shall be of a duration of at least

three (3) years on a full-time basis

Provided that the option provided in this sub-

regulation shall be available only for Member States in

which the specific training in general medical practice

lasted two (2) years as of 1st January 2001.

(3) The specific training in general medical

practice shall be carried out on a full-time basis under the

supervision of the competent authorities or bodies. The

said training shall be more practical than theoretical

Provided that the practical training shall

(a) be given, on the one hand, for at least

six (6) months in an approved hospital having

appropriate equipment and services and, on the

other hand, for at least six (6) months as part of an

approved general medical practice or an approved

centre at which doctors provide primary medical

care;

(b) take place in conjunction with other

health establishments or structures concerned with

general medicine. Without prejudice to the

minimum periods laid down in sub-regulation (2),

however, the practical training may be given during

a period of not more than six (6) months in other

approved establishments or health structures

concerned with general medicine; and

(c) require the personal participation of the

trainee in the professional activity and

responsibilities of the persons with whom he is

working.

(4) The issuance of evidence of formal

qualifications in general medical practice shall be subject

to possession of evidence of formal qualifications in

basic medical training referred to in point 5.1.1 of the

Second Schedule to the Health Care Professions Act,

point 5.1.1.

(5) Evidence of formal qualifications referred to

in point 5.1.4 of the Second Schedule to the Health Care

Professions Act may be issued to a doctor who has not

completed the training provided in this regulation but

who has completed a different supplementary training, as

attested by evidence of formal qualifications issued by

the competent authorities in a Member State. They may

not however, award evidence of formal qualifications

unless it attests knowledge of a level qualitatively

equivalent to the knowledge acquired from the training

provided in this regulation

Provided that Member States shall determine,

inter alia, the extent to which the complementary

training and professional experience already acquired by

the applicant may replace the training provided in this

regulation

Provided further that the Member States may

only issue the evidence of formal qualifications referred

to in point 5.1.4 of the Second Schedule to the Health

Care Professions Act if the applicant has acquired at least

six (6) months' experience of general medicine in a

general medical practice or a centre in which doctors

provide primary medical care of the types referred to in

sub-regulation (3).".

€0.27