Ukrainian doctors 'at various stages' of registering to work in Ireland

There are also currently two Ukrainian healthcare professionals on registers with Coru, which regulates 16 health and social care professions. File Picture: Pexels

Almost 50 Ukrainian doctors are now in the process of registering to work in Ireland as supports put in place over the last two years take effect, according to the Irish Medical Council.

In addition, Coru, which regulates jobs such as physiotherapists, said seven people are at various stages of their recognition process, with a further two already at work.

However, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) said that it has received very few applications, with a number of barriers becoming apparent for Ukrainian nurses.

In relation to doctors, a survey carried out last year identified more than 280 Ukrainian doctors who had fled to Ireland after the Russian invasion of their country.

Collaboration opened between the Medical Council, the HSE, and its National Doctors Training and Planning, the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies, and the  Department of Health to support them.

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A Medical Council spokeswoman said one of the biggest challenges that the doctors faced is linked to language and English fluency. Training and funded language supports have been provided.

“Some 48 applications for registration to the General Division have been received,” she said. "These are at various stages."

Doctors who trained outside the EU must take exams called PRES (Pre-Registration Examination System) as part of registration.

“A number of doctors have taken and passed the PRES 2 exams, and more are booked in to take the exam at upcoming sittings,” said the spokeswoman. "One doctor has passed the PRES 3 exam."

A number of Ukrainian doctors and Ukrainian qualified doctors have been working in Ireland since before outbreak of the war.” 

There are currently two Ukrainian healthcare professionals on registers with Coru, which regulates 16 health and social care professions.

A further seven people, from the fields of optometry and physiotherapy as well as speech and language therapy, are applying for registration.

“There are currently two healthcare professionals that are in the process of applying for registration with Coru and five in the process of applying for the recognition of their qualifications,” said a spokesman.

The NMBI, which regulates nurses and midwives, "has received very few applications for recognition of qualifications, and registration, from Ukrainian nurses and midwives”, a spokeswoman said.

They have also found English-language proficiency to be a challenge. This is also being addressed with access to the same funded programmes as for the doctors.

In addition, she said: “Those who have applied have found it challenging to provide evidence of their undergraduate education, which is required in order for NMBI to assess this against our own requirements.” 

 It is understood this is a common situation for refugees fleeing war or conflict who may not have time to gather educational documents.

The regulator supports any nurses or midwives needing to have documents translated. A bridging programme developed with the Royal College of Surgeons has not yet received enough applicants to run, however.