The European Commission has issued a public consultation on professional mobility in Europe and hospital pharmacists are invited to share their views and experiences.

The consultation is part of a review of EU rules on professional mobility. These rules establish minimum training requirements which give professionals such as pharmacists who may wish to work in another Member State automatic recognition of their qualifications. The aim of the consultation is to gather a wide range of views to feed into the Commission’s thinking on a legislative review due to take place next year.

Key questions for pharmacists include whether the minimum training requirements need to be updated, and if there could be some benefit from a “professional card” to help improve temporary mobility. In addition, this is an opportunity for hospital pharmacists in many European countries to revisit the idea of pressing for pan European recognition of their hospital pharmacy qualification. EAHP is keen to have feedback from our members on these points. The consultation is open until 15 March 2011 and is available in full on the European Commission’s website.