Ireland is highly dependent on overseas doctors. According to an OECD report published in 2017, 42.3% of doctors practicing in Ireland are from overseas. A good chunk of these doctors however, have been leaving Ireland within the first couple of years. An article published in 2019 by the Irish times stated that between 2015-17 more than 2800 doctors had withdrawn from the Irish medical register. 

Update: Between 2015 - 2020, 5000 doctors have left the country, almost half of them from outside the EU (Oonagh Smith, RTE Prime Time) 

One of the main reasons for leaving given by these doctors was lack of equal training opportunities for non EU doctors in Ireland.

ALSO, the lack of clarity in career progression via alternate pathway, has led to a halt in training progression across all specialties for non-scheme trainee doctors in Ireland.

This is clearly a situation that would not benefit the Irish healthcare system; a healthcare system that has high dependency on non-scheme trainees to run its system.

Let’s have a quick look at a fresh medical graduate (overseas and local) career progression in the Irish health system.

There are two possible pathways:
1. Training pathway i.e. competitive application for BST and HST and completion of scheme to be admitted to the specialist register
2. Alternative pathway which is ambiguous, non transparent and unrecognised, to a select few with strong references who maintain a self created log-book for the 5+ years they've worked here (post MRCPI with BST exemption)

The United Kingdom (which is where most non-scheme trainees often leave to) is the closest to Ireland in terms of training pathway as it has two options too. However, the second option is defined clearly (CESR) by the training bodies on its website for those who want to go down this route to progress in their career.

After lengthy verbal discussions with higher authorities of the RCPI, we were recommended to do a national survey on all non-scheme trainees to determine their thought process regarding career progression in Ireland.

We compiled our survey results and found out the THREE major obstacles preventing non-EU doctors from progressing in their careers and fueling BRAIN DRAIN:

1) They are not offered a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

2) Not all stamp 4 categories are treated equally when ranking for training

3) Undue citizenship delays which means 8-9 years before they can compete fairly in the system

We presented the findings to the HSE, IMO, training bodies and Health Minister in order to:
1. End discrimination against non-Irish/non-EU medical doctors when applying for training posts
2. Highlight the lack and disparity of training opportunities for non-scheme trainees in Ireland
3. Ensure equal career opportunities/pathways for for all doctors in Ireland
4. Get the training bodies to launch national guidelines with appropriate log book on its website for the acknowledgement of non-scheme trainees' work whilst in Ireland Training bodies endorsed to bring a structured, alternative pathway in July 2021

Update: NDTP endorsed to implement a structured alternative pathway by July 2021 however there are still questions over its recognition. Other than this, we are afraid no further action has been taken so far.

Let's work together and prevent this crisis by bring equality in the system.

#TrainUsForIreland