GOsC responds to EC consultation on professional mobility

The GOsC has submitted a response to the European Commission consultation on the modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, which is designed to boost professional mobility within the European Union.

Under this legislation Member States are required to automatically recognise qualifications in seven professions where training requirement are harmonised, including doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives and pharmacists.

The GOsC responded to 14 specific consultation questions and also commented:

“The challenge the GOsC has always faced with implementing the Professional Qualifications Directive is the fact osteopathy is classified as a „risk profession? in terms of the Directive because of the implications for public health and safety, it is not widely regulated across Europe¹ and care is predominately provided to patients in unsupervised, private practice.

“We support the principle of free movement, and would welcome a revised directive which enhances patient safety and respects the rights of osteopaths moving within Europe.”

The response is also available on the external consultations page of this website.

¹Within the European Economic Area, osteopathy is regulated in only six countries: Finland, France, Iceland, Malta, Switzerland and the UK.