Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1742. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his views on whether doctors that have qualified in Ukraine and have been recognised with an equivalent relevant health care qualification to that of a health skills FETAC level 5 qualification can work in direct patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18101/23]
View answer1743. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on running Pres 2 exams or Plab exams in Ireland to facilitate the high number of Ukrainian doctors who want to practice in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18102/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1742 and 1743 together.
Officials from my Department have been working closely with colleagues in the six health profession regulators to examine ways to support all Ukrainian health practitioners arriving in the State. The regulators fully recognise the importance of assisting these practitioners and have been actively examining the measures that might need to be taken to support them to join their registers where possible and to gain employment in the health service.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. It is committed to supporting doctors arriving from Ukraine seeking to work in this jurisdiction. The Medical Council has established an internal working group to examine ways in which it can support these doctors, it has met with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland and it has a dedicated email address and webpage with information for Ukrainian doctors.
The HSE has also been heavily engaged in this and is working on providing employment pathways for those with healthcare qualifications and experience. The HSE is currently exploring the possibility of observer roles in clinical areas while doctors are awaiting full registration and is working closely with the Medical Council in this regard. The HSE has a web portal open to Ukrainian practitioners who wish to register their interest in working in healthcare and it communicates regularly to inform them of updates in relation to their profession.
I am aware that medical English language training is particularly required to assist many of the applicants to meet the standards necessary for registration. In this regard, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I approved a funding package for medical English language training to assist Ukrainian doctors and dentists in gaining registration here. The medical language training package, designed in association with the HSE, consists of a language assessment and needs analysis followed by one of three subsequent training pathways. The Clinical English language training portal is live at www.regpath.ie and provides information on the minimum English language proficiency levels required, the training available, and how to apply. As of 13th April, there have been 249 Applications, 125 Diagnostic Assessments have been carried out and 96 people have been assigned to a training pathway.
In relation to the PRES 2 exam, the Medical Council have confirmed that dates have been set for PRES 2 exams for May, August and November and a number of Ukrainian doctors have submitted applications to sit the PRES 2 exam in May.
It is important to note that the Clinical Observer role currently being developed by the HSE will be open to doctors who have passed the Clinical English language training test and the passing of the PRES 2 exam is not required for this role.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I fully appreciate the importance of assisting health professionals from Ukraine to gain registration here. However, it is important that this is done in a safe manner which recognises the differences in training and language that exist between our systems of medical education and practise. The language training will greatly assist in meeting the standards for registration and it may be the case that some practitioners apply for non-medical practitioner roles while they work towards registration.
