Laboratory medicine in the European Union

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wytze P. Oosterhuis ◽  
Simone Zerah
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
European Federation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe profession of laboratory medicine differs between countries within the European Union (EU) in many respects. The objective of professional organizations of the promotion of mutual recognition of specialists within the EU is closely related to the free movement of people. This policy translates to equivalence of standards and harmonization of the training curriculum. The aim of the present study is the description of the organization and practice of laboratory medicine within the countries that constitute the EU. A questionnaire covering many aspects of the profession was sent to delegates of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and Union Européenne de Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS) of the 28 EU countries. Results were sent to the delegates for confirmation. Many differences between countries were identified: predominantly medical or scientific professionals; a broad or limited professional field of interest; inclusion of patient treatment; formal or absent recognition; a regulated or absent formal training program; general or minor application of a quality system based on ISO Norms. The harmonization of the postgraduate training of both clinical chemists and of laboratory physicians has been a goal for many years. Differences in the organization of the laboratory professions still exist in the respective countries which all have a long historical development with their own rationality. It is an important challenge to harmonize our profession, and difficult choices will need to be made. Recent developments with respect to the directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications call for new initiatives to harmonize laboratory medicine both across national borders, and across the borders of scientific and medical professions.

Free Movement and Discrimination: Evidence from Europe, the United States, and Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem Maas
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
European Union ◽  
International Migration ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
The United States ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Good Test ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Eu

Abstract This article surveys some general lessons to be drawn from the tension between the promise of citizenship to deliver equality and the particularistic drive to maintain diversity. Democratic states tend to guarantee free movement within their territory to all citizens, as a core right of citizenship. Similarly, the European Union guarantees (as the core right of EU citizenship) the right to live and the right to work anywhere within EU territory to EU citizens and members of their families. Such rights reflect the project of equality and undifferentiated individual rights for all who have the status of citizen. But they are not uncontested. Within the EU, several member states propose to reintroduce border controls and to restrict access for EU citizens who claim social assistance. Similar tensions and attempts to discourage freedom of movement also exist in other political systems, and the article gives examples from the United States and Canada. Within democratic states, particularly federal ones and others where decentralized jurisdictions are responsible for social welfare provision, it thus appears that some citizens can be more equal than others. Principles such as benefit portability, prohibition of residence requirements for access to programs or rights, and mutual recognition of qualifications and credentials facilitate the free flow of people within states and reflect the attempt to eliminate internal borders. Within the growing field of migration studies, most research focuses on international migration, movement between states, involving international borders. But migration across jurisdictional boundaries within states is at least as important as international migration. Within the European Union, free movement often means changing residence across jurisdictional boundaries within a political system with a common citizenship, even though EU citizenship is not traditional national citizenship. The EU is thus a good test of the tension between the equality promised by common citizenship and the diversity institutionalized by borders.

Weiterbildung in der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin in Europa

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Parthaune ◽  
Doris Hendig ◽  
Christian Schaaf
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Medical Specialists

ZusammenfassungDie Weiterbildung in der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin ist in Europa heterogen. Mediziner, Naturwissenschaftler und Pharmazeuten können sich in Europa in der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin weiterbilden. Die Weiterbildungszeiten und -inhalte sowie Abschlussmodalitäten unterscheiden sich jedoch voneinander. Mit dem Ziel der Harmonisierung und Qualitätssicherung der Weiterbildung in Europa veröffentlichten sowohl die Sektion „Laboratory Medicine/Medical Biopathology“ der „European Union of Medical Specialists“ (UEMS) als auch die „European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine“ (EFLM) 2012 ein überarbeitetes Curriculum für die postgraduale Weiterbildung in der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin. Die EFLM führte die Berufsbezeichnung „Specialist in Laboratory Medicine“ (ehemals „European Specialist in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine“) ein. Die UEMS vergibt den polyvalenten Titel „Specialist in General Laboratory Medicine – Polyvalent Medical Biopathology“ sowie 4 monovalente Titel. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt eine Übersicht zum aktuellen Stand der Weiterbildung in der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin in den EU-Staaten im Vergleich zu Deutschland. Die Ziele der UEMS und EFLM als Dachorganisationen der Klinischen Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin in der EU werden diskutiert.

scholarly journals The Future of Criminal Law within the European Union - Union Law or Community Law Competence?

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Verena Murshetz
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Constitution ◽  
Criminal Sanctions ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
European Court ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Criminal Matters ◽  
The Eu

Recent developments regarding criminal matters within the European Union (EU) show a trend towards a supranational criminal competence, which could be realised before the entry into force of the European Constitution whose future is uncertain. The strongest indicators in this development are two judgments of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), one that extends the powers of the European Community (EC) over the protection of the environment through criminal sanctions  and the other applying the principle of conforming interpretation to framework decisions . This trend is questionable though, as the Treaty of the European Union (TEU) does not confer a criminal competence upon the EC. The third pillar containing criminal matters is intergovernmental in nature. This article critically discusses the recent trend and presents arguments against an implied supranational criminal law within the EU.

Mutual Trust as a Way to an Unconditional Automatic Recognition of Foreign Judgments

2019 ◽  
pp. 211-241
Author(s):  
Radovan Malachta
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
Automatic Recognition ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
Mutual Trust ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Eu

The article covers a topic of an unconditional automatic recognition of foreign judgments within the European Union. Thus far, a different method in case of foreign judgments has been used. Certain regulations of the EU require exequatur and contain grounds for refusal of recognition and in certain regulations both the exequatur and grounds for refusal of recognition have been abolished. First, the paper deals with the principle of mutual trust (what mutual trust is and in what to trust). Subsequently, the article points out the differences between the principle of mutual trust and the principle of mutual recognition. Finally, it discusses the notion of automatic recognition in the context of free movement of judgments within the EU.

scholarly journals Adding clinical utility to the laboratory reports: automation of interpretative comments

2018 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wytze Oosterhuis
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Diagnostic Efficiency ◽  
Laboratory Test Results ◽  
Interpretative Comments

Abstract In laboratory medicine, consultation by adding interpretative comments to reports has long been recognized as one of the activities that help to improve patient treatment outcomes and strengthen the position of our profession. Interpretation and understanding of laboratory test results might in some cases considerably be enhanced by adding test when considered appropriate by the laboratory specialist – an activity that was named reflective testing. With patient material available at this stage, this might considerably improve the diagnostic efficiency. The need and value of these forms of consultation have been proven by a diversity of studies. Both general practitioners and medical specialists have been shown to value interpretative comments. Other forms of consultation are emerging: in this time of patient empowerment and shared decision making, reporting of laboratory results to patients will be common. Patients have in general little understanding of these results, and consultation of patients could add a new dimension to the service of the laboratory. These developments have been recognized by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, which has established the working group on Patient Focused Laboratory Medicine for work on the matter. Providing proper interpretative comments is, however, labor intensive because harmonization is necessary to maintain quality between individual specialists. In present-day high-volume laboratories, there are few options on how to generate high-quality, patient-specific comments for all the relevant results without overwhelming the laboratory specialists. Automation and application of expert systems could be a solution, and systems have been developed that could ease this task.

Just another Chinese city? Hong Kong’s post-1997 role to the European Union

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-196
Author(s):  
Suetyi Lai
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Economic Bloc ◽  
The City ◽  
The Eu

Purpose By overviewing the role of Hong Kong to the European Union (EU), the world’s largest economic bloc and a key global actor, the purpose of this paper is to understand any change in international prominence and status of Hong Kong after two decades of its sovereignty return. Design/methodology/approach It is based on analysis of statistics, government discourses and official documents. Findings Main findings are that although the function of Hong Kong as an entrepot of China–EU trade and the ranking of the city as the EU’s trade partners have both diminished, the city sustains its roles as a platform to enter Mainland China, a regional hub in Asia, a major international capital market, a diplomatic counterpart and a partner in socio-cultural aspects to the EU. This paper agrees with the EU’s view that continuous well-functioning of Hong Kong under “One Country, Two System” serves stake of the Union which is keen on helping the SAR to ensure its high autonomy. Yet, the determinants remain Hong Kong and Beijing Governments, which have been and should continue to make use of Hong Kong’s closer tie with the mainland to promote international importance of both the city and China. Originality/value Research on relations between Hong Kong and the EU has been few, especially so in the past decades. This paper serves as a stock-take of the most recent developments in Hong Kong–EU relation.

scholarly journals A proposed common training framework for specialists in laboratory medicine under EU directive 2013/55/EC (The recognition of professional qualifications)

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gijsbert Wieringa ◽  
Josep Queraltó ◽  
Evgenija Homšak ◽  
Nuthar Jassam ◽  
Etienne Cavalier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Specialist Practice ◽  
Eu Commission ◽  
The Eu

AbstractEuropean Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC (The Recognition of Professional qualifications) allows Member States to decide on a common set of minimum knowledge, skills and competences that are needed to pursue a given profession through a Common Training Framework. To be adopted the framework must combine the knowledge, skills and competences of at least one third of the Member States. Professionals who have gained their qualifications under a Common Training Framework will be able to have these recognised automatically within the Union. The backbone of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine’s (EFLM) proposed Common Training Framework for non-medical Specialists in Laboratory Medicine is outlined here. It is based on an Equivalence of Standards in education, training, qualifications, knowledge, skills, competences and the professional conduct associated with specialist practice. In proposing the recognition of specialist practice EFLM has identified 15 EU Member States able to meet Equivalence and in whom the profession and/or its training is regulated (an additional EU Commission requirement). The framework supports and contributes to the Directive’s enabling goals for increasing professional mobility, safeguarding consumers and ensuring a more equitable distribution of skills and expertise across the Member States. It represents EFLM’s position statement and provides a template for professional societies and/or competent authorities to engage with the EU Commission.

scholarly journals The Academy of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the European Register of Specialists in Laboratory Medicine: guide to the Academy and the Register, version 4 – 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gijsbert Wieringa ◽  
Nuthar Jassam ◽  
Evgenija Homsak ◽  
Ivana Rako ◽  
Jaroslav Racek
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
European Federation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Stepping Stones ◽  
High Quality Education ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
European Register ◽  
Training Professional

AbstractThe 4th version of the guide to the Register for European Specialists in Laboratory Medicine (EuSpLM) established by the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine describes the transfer of the register to the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) in 2016, the extension in 2018 of the Register beyond the European Union to Europe and the benefits of membership of the EFLM Academy to which the Register transferred on the Academy’s launch in 2019. The Academy offers EuSpLM registrants access to benefits that include reduced registration rates at selected conferences and free subscription to Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. With effect from 2020 eligibility was extended to anyone with an interest in laboratory medicine. The updated guide describes the electronically driven processes for individual membership and block enrolment from national societies/organisations, and the stepping stones to recognition as an EuSpLM within the Academy. Whilst eligibility for recognition as an EuSpLM remains largely unchanged new expectations across Europe in education, training, professional regulation and qualifications are reflected in updated criteria. The continuing driver for establishing the Academy and growing the EFLM Register reflects the federation’s leadership role in the harmonisation of high quality education and training for those with an interest in laboratory medicine as well as ongoing initiatives to establish a Common Training Framework for Specialists in Laboratory Medicine under EU Directive 2013/55/EC (The Recognition of Professional Qualifications).

scholarly journals Is the European Migration Crisis Caused by Russian Hybrid Warfare?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Viljar Veebel
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Security ◽  
Hybrid Warfare ◽  
Present Decade ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Migration Flows ◽  
The Eu

Recent developments in European security situation, starting with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, followed by the complicated Brexit and political instability in the Middle East and North Africa, have given rise to instability in the European Union. Yet, none of the other factors could be compared with the risks caused by the massive influx of refugees into the EU that challenges both solidarity and responsibility of the member states. In this context, it is extremely important to understand the actual security threats related to the refugee crisis and the root causes of growing refugee flows. This article discusses the roots of large-scale migration flows in the European Union (EU) over the present decade and investigates the potential link between migration flows and modern hybrid warfare, referring to the coordination of various modes of warfare, such as military and non-military means, conventional and non-conventional capabilities, state and non-state actors with an aim to cause instability and disarrangement. It is intriguing to investigate whether the increase in migration flows could be linked to present confrontation in the global arena on the Russia-West axis. Common patterns of migration flows from Syria and Ukraine to the EU are discussed, as well as policy recommendations are given to diminish the negative impact of similar events in the future.

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