Professional regulation

Abstract

Statutory professional regulation in healthcare commenced when the General Medical Council (GMC) was established by the Medical Act of 1858. Its role was to set up and keep a register of qualified practitioners that was accessible to the public, to oversee medical education and to self-regulate the profession. The funding of the regulatory bodies comes from fees paid by each registrant. Professional regulation is a collaborative process led by health professionals. The relevant regulatory body works with many key stakeholders such as its registrants, the public, education providers, professional bodies, employers, the government, and others who have an interest in protecting the public.Close liaison and good communication with professional bodies are vital to ensure that the work of each organisation is mutually beneficial to the profession. Collaboration with government, through the Department of Health and the Minister for Health, is extremely important as it controls the legislation governing the rules under which the regulatory bodies act.