EJD Statement on the reform of French Postgraduate Training

The European Junior Doctors‘ Permanent Working Group (EJD) calls on the French government to provide French Junior Doctors with more time for discussions on the reform of postgraduate training programmes. Many crucial points remain uncertain to this day.

The European Junior Doctors‘ Permanent Working Group (EJD) calls on the French government to provide French Junior Doctors with more time for discussions on the reform of postgraduate training programmes. Many crucial points remain uncertain to this day. There are on-going disputes regarding the length of some specialty training programmes for example, whereby postgraduate training programmes would be shortened by a year, leading to a situation where residents would have more responsibilities and less supervision in their final year of training.

Most importantly, hardly any discussions have taken place regarding how the transition period would work, with new residents following the new programme, while the older trainees are still in the older programme. This reform of French postgraduate training programmes is being proposed to French Junior Doctors on the eve of a government change, without sufficient time to discuss major points, and to study the implications of the proposed measures.

The EJD supports doctors in France in taking the necessary action to ensure that the reform of French postgraduate training is satisfactory for both current and future trainees.

Brussels, 22nd April 2017