The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007

Insertion of section 44BA

24.  After section 44B insert—

“Fitness to practise of exempt persons: sufficient evidence

44BA.— (1) Subsections (2) to (5) apply in relation to an exempt person (“E”) who applies for registration under section 3(1)(b), 14A or 19A of this Act.

(2) For the purpose of determining whether E’s fitness to practise is impaired, the Registrar shall accept as sufficient evidence of E’s good health a certificate which—

(a) attests to E’s good physical and mental health; and

(b) is required of a person who wishes to practise medicine in E’s attesting State.

(3) If no such certificate is required of persons who wish to practise medicine in E’s attesting State, for the purpose of determining whether E’s fitness to practise is impaired, the Registrar shall accept as sufficient evidence of E’s good health a certificate which—

(a) attests to E’s good physical and mental health; and

(b) is issued by a competent authority in E’s attesting State.

(4) For the purpose of determining whether E’s fitness to practise is impaired, the Registrar shall accept as sufficient evidence of E’s good character a certificate which—

(a) attests to E’s good character or good repute; and

(b) is issued by a competent authority in E’s attesting State.

(5) If no such certificate is issued by a competent authority in E’s attesting State, for the purpose of determining whether E’s fitness to practise is impaired, the Registrar shall accept as sufficient evidence of E’s good character a certificate—

(a) attesting to the authenticity of a declaration on oath made by E—

(i) before a competent judicial or admininstrative authority, notary or qualified professional body of E’s attesting State, and

(ii) attesting to E’s good character; and

(b) issued by the authority, notary or body referred to in paragraph (a)(i).

In this subsection, “declaration on oath” includes a solemn declaration.

(6) In subsections (2) to (5) the “attesting State”, in relation to E, is—

(a) the relevant European State in which E obtained his medical qualification; or

(b) (if different) the relevant European State from which E comes to the United Kingdom.

(7) The Registrar shall not accept any certificate referred to in subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) if it is presented more than three months after the date on which it was issued.”.