International Briefs

Abstract

The latest webinars in a series launched recently by the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) have been posted online and are now available for viewing.“Emerging COVID-19 Challenges for the Safety and Standards of Patient Care” examines longer-term challenges for medical regulation that are expected as a result of the pandemic. Topics range from the mental health of physicians and implications for fitness-to-practice processes to the impact of delayed care for patients and the rapid rise of telehealth. Panelists include Dr. Ruth Vine, Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health; Harry Cayton, the United Kingdom’s Professional Regulation and Governance Advisor; and Nicole Krishnaswami, JD, Executive Director of the Oregon Medical Board. The panel is led by Martin Fletcher, CEO of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.“Professional Conduct and Discipline in the Era of COVID-19” explores ethical issues that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including controversies over mask-wearing and the promotion of cures and treatments that are not backed by evidence. Led by Humayun Chaudhry, DO, MACP, President and CEO of the FSMB, the panel includes Sherif Zaafran, MD, President of the Texas Medical Board; Richard Ndovie, Registrar of the Medical Council of Malawi; Martin Fletcher, CEO of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; and Dr. Kgosi Letlape, IAMRA Chair.The online recordings of the webinars are available to IAMRA members in the Members Only section of the IAMRA website, and to non-members through the IAMRA Secretariat. For more information on the webinars or IAMRA, please contact the IAMRA Secretariat at secretariat@iamra.com.Source: IAMRA website and email news announcementsIAMRA recently announced the addition of several new partner organizations, including the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand, Foundation University College of Dentistry, Rwanda Allied Health Professions, Korean Medical Association and the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences. The Idaho Board of Medicine has joined IAMRA as a member organization.Source: IAMRA eNews, December 18, 2020European physicians continue to play a significant role in UK medicine, with more joining the UK’s register of physicians and fewer leaving over the last year.The latest data report from the General Medical Council (GMC) on physicians who qualified to practice medicine in the European Economic Area (EEA) shows 2,268 joined the UK’s register between June 2019 and June 2020, representing a 7.5% increase over the previous year. This trend was matched with a reduction in EEA-qualified doctors leaving the register, with a year-on-year decrease of 7.4%.The mix of EEA physicians joining the UK’s register has also changed in recent years, with greater numbers moving to the UK from Central, Eastern Europe and Baltic countries. Physicians from the Republic of Ireland are still the largest group in the cohort, accounting for 14 per cent of all EEA-qualified physicians on the UK register.“We’re grateful to the thousands of European and international doctors who choose to live and work in the UK and make a huge difference for patients,” said Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC. “Despite uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU, we have observed steady growth in recent years. But we must not be complacent, as the long-term impact of both Brexit and the pandemic on travel and decisions to emigrate and settle in the UK remain largely unknown.”Source: GMC news release, December 4, 2020