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Commission nod for ‘more liberal’ checks of health qualifications

Image: Lucky Business, via Shutterstock

Requirements and checks for health qualifications can be temporarily eased amid Covid-19

EU rules allow member states to take “a more liberal approach” to allowing health professionals from other countries to work during the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission has said.

Measures that can be dropped include certain checks of and declarations regarding qualifications, as well as requirements for potential compensation, the Commission said in a clarification of EU rules it published on 7 May.

Early graduation of health professionals is also allowed, the Commission said, provided that minimum EU requirements are met. Otherwise, derogations must be applied for.

“The coronavirus crisis has put an incredible strain on all countries’ health systems and created shortages of qualified health workers around Europe,” EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton said.

“Today we are helping member states to make better use of the existing rules to recognise health workers’ qualifications and help them perform their duties where and when needed.”