CHANGE OF DATA FOR DOCTORS PROPOSED - LICENSING OF FOREIGNERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN OUR COUNTRY - DIABETOLOGY, INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY AND TEN OTHER DISCIPLINES TO BE RECOGNISED - Filenews 14/7 by Marilena Panayi
The recognition of specialization (field of interest) is attempted to be achieved through amendments to the relevant legislation with the three bills having been prepared by the Ministry of Health and are already in the process of public consultation.
As far as diabetology is concerned, it is worth mentioning that in Cyprus for years now, doctors who have the necessary qualifications have also proceeded to establish a competent scientific society.
Given, in fact, the fact that the percentage of people with diabetes in Cyprus is considered to be one of the highest in Europe, the recognition of this field of interest for doctors will also work to the benefit of patients.
In fact, with the legal recognition of diabetes as a specialty, it will also be possible to identify specialized doctors within the General Health System.
The same will apply to the field of interest concerning interventional radiology, for which a relevant bill has also been prepared.
Interventional radiology, to date, although practiced in Cyprus as a field of interest, is not governed by regulations and conditions, with the result that, in several cases in the past, tensions have been created, even between doctors.
Finally, order is also put in the various paediatric specializations since with the third amending bill, the qualifications, criteria and conditions that must be met in order for a doctor to offer the relevant services are determined.
The bill covers:
>> Intensive Treatment of Children.
>> Developmental Paediatrics.
>> Paediatric allergy.
>> Pediatric gastroenterology.
>> Paediatric Endocrinology.
>> Paediatric Nephrology.
>> Paediatric Oncology – Paediatric Hematology.
>> Paediatric pulmonology.
>> Paediatric rheumatology.
>> Paediatric Cardiology.
All three amendments concern the "Doctors (Special Qualifications) Regulations".
Commenting on the amendments, the president of the Pancyprian Medical Association told "F" that this is "a development that was rather imperative", since as he explained, "there is a need to regulate the specific fields of interest with the aim of always ensuring the quality of the services provided in the context of the effort to specialize in the field of Health".
What is provided for diabetes
According to the proposed regulations, the specialization-field of interest in diabetology will be acquired and recognized, after two years of training of doctors who have already acquired the specialty of pathology or paediatrics.
At the same time, a transitional procedure is provided for doctors who offer diabetes services in the context of "special interest".
Pathologists and paediatricians who have at least one year of postgraduate training in recognized diabetes centers in the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States or Australia and have proven clinical and research activity in diabetes mellitus will be eligible to apply, among others.
Also, those who have a doctorate or master's degree in the field of diabetes mellitus, as well as paediatricians who have already obtained a specialization or subspecialty in paediatric endocrinology from recognized centers, will also be eligible to apply.
Applications will be evaluated by a special committee and, where necessary, candidates will be able to sit for examinations before being awarded the title of specialization.
For interventional radiology,
A similar procedure to diabetology is also introduced for interventional radiology.
The proposed bill provides that the specialization-field of interest will be acquired after two years of training, either after the completion of the specialty of radiology or during it, with a total education of at least seven years.
For radiologists already in service, a transitional period is also provided, during which they will be able to apply for recognition of the specialization if they have a recognized title from another state or certification such as the European Board of Interventional Radiology (EBIR) or a relevant certificate of special interest from the Cyprus Medical Council.
And in this case, the qualifications will be evaluated by a special committee consisting of radiology professors from abroad, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Medical Council, the Pancyprian Medical Association and the Cyprus Radiological Society.
Ten specializations of paediatrics
Most of the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Health concern the specialty of paediatrics, as for the first time integrated recognition regulations are introduced for the ten paediatric specializations.
For most of the ten specializations, a three-year training is provided after the acquisition of the specialty of paediatrics, while for Paediatric Intensive Care, a two-year specialization is provided with the possibility of access from other basic specialties, under specific conditions.
Of particular interest are the transitional provisions for paediatricians who already offer services related to these subspecialties.
The proposed regulations allow the submission of an application for recognition to doctors who have one, two or three years of training in recognized centers abroad, provided that it is accompanied by corresponding many years of clinical experience, scientific activity, publications and participation in conferences.
The evaluation will also be carried out in these cases by a special committee, which will examine the details of each candidate and, if necessary, will be able to request his/her participation in examinations before the recognition of the specialization.
As far as paediatric cardiology is concerned. Those doctors who already have a recognized specialty in paediatric cardiology and offer their services to children, are not affected and retain their rights.
Medical tourism: The way is opened for doctors from third countries in Cyprus
A significant change in the legislative framework governing the provision of medical services in Cyprus is being promoted by the Ministry of Health, with a bill.
The bill concerns the granting of an occasional license to practice medicine to doctors from third countries, who will be able to provide medical services in Cyprus to patients who are not permanent residents of the Republic and choose to travel to the country to receive treatment from a doctor of their choice.
The most important change, however, is that a key restriction that was in force until today is abolished. In particular, the legislation in force provided that in order to grant occasional leave to a doctor from a third country, the Medical Council had to find that the services it was going to offer were not already provided by a doctor in the Republic of Cyprus. With the bill, this condition is deleted.
According to the justification of the Ministry of Health, the aim of the amendment is to facilitate medical tourism, enabling foreign patients to continue their treatment in Cyprus by a doctor who already monitors or trusts them, even if he comes from a country outside the European Union.
In practice, a patient from a third country who chooses Cyprus to undergo surgery or other specialized treatment, will be able to be accompanied by his attending physician, who will receive temporary permission to practice medicine exclusively for this purpose.
The change is estimated to make Cyprus a more attractive destination for high-income patients, particularly from Middle Eastern countries, such as Israel, and other regions from which many patients choose to travel abroad for specialized care.
