Majority wants testing of foreign doctors

Many doctors from the Congo, India, Egypt, and other third world countries should undergo an additional check.

That is the opinion of a parliamentary majority in the wake of several revealing stories in the press, concerning foreign doctors who faked their way to a medical authorization or whose lack of competence might pose a danger in hospitals.

- We might have to have these doctors checked and tested in order to see whether they should be able to continue working in Denmark, says spokesman on health matters for Dansk Folkeparti, Liselott Blixt, who wants to review all authorizations issued to doctors from third world countries in the past eight years.

SF and Socialdemokratiet agree.

Documents are crucial
In 2002, the government changed the rules for authorization of foreign doctors. Before that time, doctors from third world countries had to pass several professional tests upon arrival in order to demonstrate their knowledge and competence before being granted a permanent authorization.

Now, they can wait up to two years before taking the tests.

In the meantime, they are free to work under a temporary authorization, granted exclusively on the basis of whatever documents they brought with them, and these may be lacking or outright forged.

Consultations with minister
- In Socialdemokratiet, we have already called the Minister for the Interior and Health for consultations, says spokesman on health matters for Socialdemokratiet, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.

- As a starting point, we want to find out how many doctors we are talking about, and where in our health sector they are employed, she adds.

Wants Board of Health scrutinized
In addition, SF, Dansk Folkeparti, and Det Radikale Venstre demand an investigation into how the National Board of Health has been performing its duties concerning medical authorizations.

- I plan to request that the minister account for what the exact procedure is. I am completely flabbergasted that some who are not doctors receive authorizations. That clearly means there must be an error somewhere. There must be a fault somewhere in the procedure, says spokesman on health matters for Det Radikale Venstre, Lone Dybkjær.

Translated by Martin Lamberth