Irish Medical Council faces scrutiny over delays in registration of Pakistani doctors
DUBLIN, Ireland (MNTV) — The medical council of Ireland has come under scrutiny for delays in processing applications from doctors with foreign qualifications, particularly those from Pakistan.
The Irish Medical Council (IMC) has acknowledged challenges in assessing intern training from Pakistan due to the variety in training practices, which has led to slower registration processes for applicants, as reported by Irish news outlet Gript.
Multiple communications shared in online forums for Pakistani doctors indicate delays in registration and suggest that some internship certificates do not meet the IMC’s standards.
One message, dated January 2025, cited the diverse nature of intern training in Pakistan as a reason for the difficulty in assessing its equivalence to Irish training.
A follow-up message from February 2025 stated that the IMC was addressing issues with certain certificates of experience not meeting the required rotation standards.
In response to inquiries about these issues, the IMC clarified that it has set up an advisory group to streamline the evaluation process for international medical graduates.
The group aims to reduce waiting times and help assess applications more efficiently. This follows a significant increase in the number of applications from foreign doctors, particularly from Pakistan.
The IMC explained that there are several pathways for registration, including the Certificate of Experience route, which is most commonly used by Pakistani doctors.
If a doctor’s internship is deemed not equivalent to an Irish internship, they may be required to take the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES).
The Medical Council emphasized that the advisory group was a “minor administrative change” to help with the growing number of applications.
They reassured that this does not imply that foreign qualifications are substandard, but rather that the IMC is adapting to a higher volume of registrations.
The IMC also noted that international medical graduates play a crucial role in the Irish healthcare system and must go through rigorous registration and annual renewal processes.
The advisory group is expected to continue assisting with the increasing complexity and diversity of applications, ensuring a more efficient registration process for Pakistani doctors in Ireland.
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