The European Qualifications (Health Care Professions) Regulations 2003
These Regulations implement Directive 2001/19/EC which amends the Directives relating to nurses responsible for general care, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and doctors and which also amends the Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC which apply, among others, to chiropractors, osteopaths and the health professions regulated under the Health Professions Order 2001. They amend legislation to provide transitional arrangements in respect of: dentistry and pharmacy for those awarded qualifications in Italy; specialist medical qualifications awarded in Spain; and add a transitional provision in respect of pharmacy which is already present in respect of the other professions. In so far as it is not already provided for in the legislation, they provide for decisions on recognition of qualifications in respect of EEA nationals to be given within 3 months. They provide for appeals from specified decisions relating to recognition of qualifications. They also provide for part-time training in general medical practice to be at least 50 per cent. of the time spent each week by those undergoing full-time training (the previous requirement was 60 per cent).