The Recognition of Qualifications

Pediatric Surgery Maastricht-Aachen

Dr. W.G. van Gemert

Dept. Pediatric Surgery

Background

– National developments: concentration of health

care

– Pediatric Surgery case

– Geographic/demographic characteristics

– Need for cross border collaboration

• Aachen and Maastricht share the same

characteristics and difficulties

• Distance only 20-25 km

• Solution: cross border collaboration;

create one euregional center

Advantages

• Improvement of care (quality)

• Increasing the reference area (quantity)

• Efficient use of human resources and means

• Gateway to Europe (opportunity)

Difficulties

• Legislation; tax law, social security, etc.

• Income employees

• Financing patient care

• Cultural differences

• Data Registration (privacy)

• Professional qualifications

Aachen - Maastricht

• Strive to one unit surgery – pediatric surgery

• Aachen: one pediatric surgeon, one trainee

• Maastricht: two pediatric surgeons, three

trainees

• Actual short term goal:

– All pediatric surgeons and trainees recognized in

both countries

– and recognition of Aachen – Maastricht as one

teaching center (and one pediatric surgery center)

The Netherlands

• Registration as a doctor and surgeon

– KNMG; RGS; BIG

• Certification as a pediatric surgeon

– NVKC; NVvH

• Training 2 years and different setup

Germany

• Registration as a doctor, surgeon and

pediatric surgeon (Facharzt)

– Bezirksregierung; Ärztekammer

• Training 3 years and different setup

• German pediatric surgeons:

– BIG-registration (KNMG); automatic recognition as

surgeon; apply for certificate pediatric surgeon by the

NVKC

• Dutch pediatric surgeons:

– Approbation + Fachsprache Prüfung (bezirksregierung,

Ärztekammer); Automatic recognition as a general

surgeon; apply for pediatric surgeon + exam

(Ärztekammer)

Project: European Teaching Center

• How?

• Who?

• What?

Discussion points

• Discrepancy between the desire for European

collaboration and the tremendous burocracy

• No uniformity – huge administrative burden

• Complexity of procedures; lack of knowledge

• How to proceed from here (actual situation)?