Process of Medical Council registration can take up to two years, says General Secretary of the Indian Irish Medical Association
The lack of recognition in Ireland for Indian medical degrees is stopping many clinicians from that country coming here to progress their careers, the General Secretary of the Indian-Irish Medical Association (IIMA) has said.
Dr Pramod Agarwal made the comments to Irish Medical Times as the organisation prepares to host its inaugural conference in Meath this weekend.
“There are many doctors who want to come to Ireland to work and give their best to the Irish health system, but they cannot,” he said.
According to Dr Agarwal, the process involved for Indian doctors to get the necessary accreditation to work in Ireland can take up to two years, which is prohibitive for many.
Doctors trained outside the EU are typically required to sit the PRES examinations – consisting of PRES 1, PRES 2 and PRES 3 assessments – before they can register with the Medical Council. PRES 2 exams no longer take place in Ireland, forcing many to sit the PLAB exam in the UK to gain Irish registration.
With the UK assessment in high demand, doctors can be left waiting a considerable period before having the opportunity to sit the exam.
Dr Agarwal, who is a GP based in Lucan, said the process means that many Indian doctors move elsewhere to further their career. “They definitely want to come in Ireland, because it’s so welcoming here,” he added.
“But it’s because of red tape, it’s difficult for them to access. And then in the meantime, they go to other countries.”
The IIMA hopes to raise this issue with the Medical Council on Saturday when its CEO Dr Maria O’Kane and Vice President Dr Mary Davoren attend the organisation’s conference in the Johnstown Estate, Enfield.
Currently the IIMA has 260 members, with 160 delegates expected to attend Saturday’s conference. One of the key aims of setting up the organisation is to provide peer support to Indian doctors, which Dr Agarwal believes the Irish health sector had been lacking.
Ensuring the Indian clinicians have the opportunity to climb the career ladder after they begin working in Ireland is also a key priority of the IIMA.
“They very enthusiastically come into the system, give their everything, they finish their junior training. But when it comes to the higher training, it’s very difficult to secure a position,” he said.
“Unfortunately, that means they either stay in their current position, because they could be married or for family reasons, or they then move abroad to the UK or US.”
Among the speakers at the event will be Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and the Ambassador of India to Ireland Shri Manish Gupta.
The conference will cover a number of clinical topics, including robotic surgery for breast cancer and thyroid disorders for general physicians.
The issue of burnout among international doctors and self-care will be the focus of another talk, while sessions will also cover financial planning and community-based care.
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