Professor: hire doctors the American way

We should be taking our cues from the United States if we want improved quality of care in Danish hospitals, says Michael Larsen, professor of eye diseases at the University of Copenhagen. He hopes that by doing so, we will be able to attract the best doctors from third world countries.

The professor participates in the examination of doctors from third world countries who seek permanent authorization in Denmark by taking a medical test. He is shocked at the low levels of basic medical knowledge that many of the doctors have, and thinks the test is far too easy.

Dangerous doctors
Michael Larsen is concerned by the possible consequences when incompetent doctors get their own medical practice or their own field of responsibility at a hospital.

Therefore, the professor thinks Denmark should take a cue from the United States, where all applicants go through a thorough background check before they are even allowed to progress on the path to a medical authorization.

In fact, the Americans demand verification from a vetted employee at the foreign university which has issued the medical diploma. And subsequently, the doctors must enter a training program with rigorous testing before the United States allows them to call themselves doctors.

Shouldn't scrape the barrel
It doesn't help matters that the Danish test for permanent authorization is too easy, according to Michael Larsen.

- Denmark is an attractive place to work as a doctor, and we shouldn't have to scrape the barrel, says the professor.

- You have to sell it better, get some attractive candidates. Go for the ones that have the really impressive diplomas and can pass rigorous testing, then you'll get some very good doctors, he says.

Translated by Martin Lamberth