The Madrid Declaration - EHA and National Societies call for increased training requirements across the EU
Launched at EHA22 in Madrid (June 2017), the Madrid Declaration on enhanced training requirements for hematologists in the Professional Qualifications Directive has been co-signed by 26 out of 28 national hematology societies in EU Member States, and is supported by the Haematology Nurses & Healthcare Professionals Group (HNHCP) and nearly a dozen patient organizations.
The Declaration calls for increasing the minimum length of hematology training to five years, and for harmonizing training requirements across Europe based on the European Hematology Curriculum. Both are essential for high-quality patient care and for professional mobility. Considering the wide scope and innovative nature of the hematology discipline, at least five years of training are needed to allow professionals to acquire the recommended levels of knowledge and competence laid down in the European Hematology Curriculum. In Europe’s increasingly international and interconnected research and clinical environment, removing obstacles to the cross-border mobility of hematologists is increasingly important.
The Declaration is an appeal to both the European Commission and Member States. The EC is responsible for the Professional Qualifications Directive, but will consider amendments only if supported by Member States. The Member States are responsible for national training programs and for opting into the automatic recognition scheme for professional qualifications, laid down in the directive’s Annex V.
The joint call by EHA and national societies for enhanced training requirements is especially pertinent now that attempts at raising the minimum length of hematology training have been encountering obstacles in several countries. Click here to see the Madrid Declaration.
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