Medical Council to introduce new training for foreign doctors

THE Medical Council intends to introduce cultural and clinical training for foreign doctors in a response to the large number of non-Irish medics appearing before its disciplinary bodies.

The council, which regulates the more than 18,000 doctors at all levels of the profession practising in Ireland, has indicated that tackling the issue will be one of its priorities for 2014.

In 2012 foreign doctors made up 60% of those brought before the council’s fitness-to-practise inquiry, leading to concerns about the training and qualifications of non-Irish doctors in the system.