Recognising foreign doctors’ diplomas will be streamlined

People who hold medical degrees from foreign universities will have access to a special scheme for specific recognition with a view to be hired into the National Health Service (NHS).

The measure is set in the decree-law published on Tuesday (10 October) in the Government Gazette, which amends the legal scheme to recognise academic degrees and higher educaiton diplomas from foreign institutions. The diploma also sets an exceptional and temporary scheme to recognise foreign medical degrees.

According to the decree-law’s wording, the recognition of the academic degree will be via an ordinance by the members of Government charged with science, technology, higher educaiton, and health. This recognition confers on the doctor "the same rights as the Portuguese academic master’s degree, given after an integrated master’s degree medical course" and is also enough for enrolment in the professional association.

The process "is limited to the numbers to be defined" by ordinance of both ministries and is for doctors who will work with the NHS "for preset periods of time". The recognition of the degree does not waive the doctor from meeting with the required legal obligations to access a medical speciality.

The document also states that the equivalence is for doctors "who have completed medical degrees from certain foreign higher educaiton institutions of renowned trustworthiness and quality, identified by joint ordinance from the members of Government charged with science, technology, higher education, and health". 

Diplomas accepted by EU Member States are automatically recognised

On a more general field, the bill, which enters into force on Wednesday 11 October, sets that a foreign medical degree or diploma that has been accepted by an EU Member State is recognised immediately, unless the committee to accept foreign degrees and diplomas concludes there is a substantial difference in the level, goals, and nature of the original degree or diploma and its Portuguese equivalent.

The automatic recognition of degrees from foreign institutions is also set, without the need to recognise all of that country’s levels/degrees.