[International medical graduates in Dutch health care: the new assessment procedure].
On December 1, 2005 in the Netherlands, a new procedure was introduced to assess international medical graduates (IMGs) with a diploma acquired outside the European Economic Area (EEA). This procedure includes (a) general tests on the active and passive use of Dutch medical language, English reading proficiency, basic IT skills and knowledge of the Dutch health care system, and (b) a specific set of tests of medical competence, including knowledge of basic sciences, clinical knowledge and clinical skills. IMGs who wish to get their diploma acknowledged and be registered as a physician are required to complete this assessment. With the introduction of this procedure, the Netherlands have joined a minority of countries inside and outside Europe with setting high standards for intake procedures. It is advocated that all European countries should devise such procedures, as a European Directive (2005/36/EC) on the recognition of professional qualifications prohibits the assessment of medical graduates with a diploma that is recognised in another EEA country.
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Expertisecentrum voor Onderwijs en Opleiding, Postbus 85,500, 3584 CG Utrecht. t.j.tencate@umcutrecht.nl
T J
TJ
ten Cate
L R
LR
Kooij
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003144:Communication Barriers; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004651:Employment; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D009426:Netherlands