EU needs “failsafe” system to alert countries on doctors who lose licence, peers hear

A “failsafe” system of alerts about doctors who have lost their licence to practise in their own country must be adopted throughout the European Union to ensure that these doctors don’t simply move elsewhere and start seeing patients again, peers have been told.

Officials from the European Commission have admitted that the current system allowing the free movement of healthcare professionals across the EU is imperfect and needs to be reformed.

The officials were giving evidence to the House of Lords’ EU social policies and consumer protection subcommittee on 7 July as part of the committee’s inquiry into the European directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

The European Commission is reviewing …