[EDLING:172] Eastern bloc doctors escape English language test

[Francis M. Hult]

Irish Medical News

Eastern bloc doctors escape English language test

The Medical Council has abandoned proposals to introduce an English test for 
Eastern European doctors.
Under European legislation, the Council said it cannot make English language 
knowledge a criterion for registration of EU nationals, and said the onus is on 
employers to ensure staff have adequate English skills to perform their duties.

It said this had been communicated to the HSE by Council President Dr John 
Hillery.

Non-EU doctors have to sit an English test, but since EU accession, doctors 
from 10 countries no longer have to, even though many doctors from these 
countries had failed this English test under the old system, the Council said.

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