Each Section may create its own European Board as a working group with the aim to guarantee the highest standards of care in the field of the specialty in the countries of the European Union, by ensuring that the training is raised to the highest possible level.

 

The Board of Laboratory Medicine/Medical Biopathology

The UEMS Section of Medical Biopathology / Laboratory Medicine has established a "Board of Laboratory Medicine/Medical Biopathology" which has the responsibility for recommending Medical Training in the specialties represented in the Section MB. The editing and periodic reviews of the specialist-training curriculum are the responsibility of the Board and also the award of the fellowship title. Furthermore the Board is obliged to consider appeals regarding decisions of the Divisions.

The U.E.M.S. SMB Board has also developed a Visitation Program through which a training Facility can be inspected and recognized.

 

Laboratory Medicine Physician Specialists Education in Europe - diversity and harmonization

Medical and surgical disciplines separated generations ago. Later, each one of them divided into several sub-specialties, selecting for practice a narrower field. The need for a common background has always been considered; that is why all physicians practicing general medicine or any of the specialties have to have a common Medicine basic degree.

Laboratory Medicine is practiced in many different ways: from one single multivalent specialty (General Laboratory Medicine) to several independent specialties (monovalent Laboratory Medicine specialties): Hematology and Transfusion Medicine; Clinical Chemistry; Immunology; Medical Microbiology and Laboratory Genetics. Furthermore, from one nation to another monovalent specialties education and practice are not absolutely equal, and some overlaps between them can also be seen.

Each European nation can decide about the physician's specialized education and training. In general, decisions are based on historical, geographical and economic-political background. Until now no common mandatory process has been imposed over all EC countries but the "Doctors Directive" (1975) established for the first time the legal basis and the rules of procedure for mutual recognition of medical diplomas issue in any EU member state and between them. The right for free movement and professional establishment within the entire Europe recognition to medical doctors is a significant political step with major consequences for citizens, professionals, stakeholders and to the authorities.