The present EU directive only obliges Malta to recognise degrees obtained from EU states and there is no requirement to give automatic recognition to degrees obtained from non-EU states. However, the amendments as presented in parliament will put obligations on Malta to do so, something which no other EU country has accepted.

Even if an individual EU state recognises a degree from a non-EU state, this would not be binding on other states, because the EU only requires that such recognition be taken into consideration.

This is unacceptable to the medical profession, as there is no reciprocity in such recognition. Furthermore, Malta would be unable to ensure that doctors who have trained in non-EU countries are of the required standard. Automatic recognition of EU degrees is based on the premise that all such degrees have to fulfil certain minimum criteria.

There is no such guarantee for degrees obtained from non-EU countries and hence automatic recognition is not in the patient’s best interest. Such degrees should continue to be vetted by the appropriate local regulatory bodies.

The Medical Association of Malta has therefore called on the government to rectify the situation by accurately transposing the relevant part of the EU directive into Maltese law without any unwarranted alterations.