Statement of Support for International Doctors in Ireland

May 27th, 2023

Ireland has a disproportionate reliance on international doctors (doctors who received their primary medical degree outside of Ireland) to fill non-training junior doctor posts. These doctors are recruited to primarily to fill service posts with little or no access to training – a practice which is in direct contravention of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.¹

Irish Medical Council data ² shows that while International Medical Graduates (IMGs) make up more than a third (35.2%) of doctors clinically active in Ireland, 58.8% of those on the general division are IMGs and only 15.9% on the Trainee Specialist Division are IMGs.

The European Junior Doctors Association (EJD) supports the Irish Medical Organisation in their mandated advocacy towards the following:

● the need for fair and equitable access to internship and training schemes for those international doctors who trained in Irish medical schools,

● enabling international doctors who trained outside of Ireland, and who meet the standards and requirements, and who hold stamp 4 status, to apply for higher specialist training,

● significantly increase the number of approved training posts for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) and to ensure that all NCHDs have a structured pathway to specialist practice.

● Recruitment of trainees should be based on open competition, merit and transparency of process.

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¹ https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R16-en.pdf

² Irish Medical Council (2021) Workforce Intelligence Report page 30