The Riigikogu changed qualification requirements for doctors from third countries
At its today’s sitting, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) passed the Act according to which the doctors, dental practitioners, nurses and midwives from third countries have to complete practical training and pass a theory examination in Estonian before they will be authorised to work in Estonia.
The Act provides for the procedure for better checking the qualification requirements of doctors, dental practitioners, nurses and midwives if the qualifications have been acquired outside the member states of the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
The assessment of qualification will be conducted by the Health Board, the University of Tartu, and Tartu or Tallinn Health Care College. The higher education institutions will also organise the referral to practical training and the theory examination. The remunerations of persons undergoing practical training, the organisational expenses of the University of Tartu or the health care colleges, and the remunerations for supervision of practical training will be covered from the state budget through the budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
According to the data of the Ministry of Social Affairs, every year about 60 persons from third countries submit an application for commencement of employment as a doctor in Estonia, and one to two persons for commencement of employment as a nurse.
Another significant amendment concerns the doctor-residents. According to the Act, uninterrupted health insurance cover will be ensured to all doctor-residents undergoing practical training, regardless of the duration of their contract of employment. This will concern about 60 family medicine doctor-residents who undergo one-month cycles of practical training of residency in various residency teaching hospitals.
75 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Act on Amendments to the Health Services Organisation Act and the Health Insurance Act (626 SE), initiated by the Government.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone +372 631 6353, +372 510 6179
E-mail [email protected]
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