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Advocating for medical specialists

PGT & Support free movement of medical specialists


One of the main aim of UEMS is to defend and promote the interests of medical specialists at the European level. 
In this regard, the UEMS has been working from the early stage of the European legislation in 1960s until today on defending medical specialists' qualifications and supporting their movements throughout Europe.

UEMS has participated in shaping EU policy

The UEMS vision is to promote free movement through the harmonisation of the highest level of specialist training and medical care. 

From the first consultations back in 1960s, and until now, the UEMS is proud to give its feedback, support and defend best qualifications in the European legislation on professional qualifications of medical specialists. Indeed, the UEMS has participated in the consultation and advising of the European Commission of all the legislations related to the recognition of professional qualifications of medical specialists.

Following the entry into force of the "Doctors' Directive", the UEMS participated among European professional medical organisations, universities and national governments in the Advisory Committee on Medical Training (ACMT) set up by the European Commission.


UEMS liaises with the European Commission

Nowadays, the UEMS has participated in the revision process of the Professional Qualifications Directive notably through its Green paper. The UEMS advocated for common training principles as new mechanisms for automatic recognition for medical specialists.

Currently, the UEMS liaises with the European Commission with regards to the regular updates made on the Professional Qualifications Directive on the medical specialties concerned by this European legislation.


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Support better conditions of medical practice

With time, the UEMS action was not any longer limited to the field of professional qualifications, and we also support and defend the best conditions of practice for specialist doctors taking into account the increasing shortage and mental health of health professionals, and this includes:

  • Defending equality, diversity and inclusivity in work places,
  • Supporting greener and more sustainable medical practice,
  • Guiding for high level of medical ethics in relation with patients.

EU-funded projects


KEEPCARING - Future Proofing Health and Care Systems Safeguarding Healthcare Professionals in Hospital Settings


KEEPCARING Project gathers 20 participants and has just started in July 2024 for 48 months, funded through HORIZON HEALTH programme.

The project is to develop a package of solutions for the effect work stressors have on mental wellbeing of health professionals by collecting knowledge on those stressors and providing multiple (preventive) digital solutions to overcome stress, with a particular focus on resilience and wellbeing of healthcare professionals (nurses and doctors) as individuals and as a team, in the surgical field. 
The outcome is to establish a multi-faceted digital approach that is applicable within hospital departments to supply current and future employees with the tools ready to implement in European hospitals.



Previously, the UEMS participated in EU-funded projects as partner or as stakeholder, such as:

MOMENTUM - European Momentum for Mainstreaming Telemedicine Deployment in Daily Practice

This project gathered 21 partners from February 2012 to January 2015, and was partially funded by the European Commission under the Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) as part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).
The Momentum Thematic Network was a platform across which the key players share their knowledge and experience in deploying telemedicine services into routine care so as to build a body of good practice.  
The outcome of this project was mainly a European Telemedicine Deployment Blueprint that offers guidance for anybody who seeks to move telemedicine from an idea or a pilot to daily practice.



RENEWING HEALTH - REgioNs of Europe WorkINg toGether for HEALTH

The project aims to improve health services in Europe for patients suffering from chronic conditions, notably to demonstrate that telehealth based services improve quality of life, enable patient involvement and empowerment while optimising the use of resources in health provision. It gathered 9 partners and also welcomed 17 organisations representing patients, healthcare professionals, health authorities, and healthcare organisations.

RENEWING HeALTH project lasted between February 2010 and December 2013, and was funded by the European Commission, like the project MOMENTUM, under the ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP).
UEMS participated in the User Advisory Board which aimed at advising and providing on-going feedback to the project team on the needs of current and future users of the piloted telemedicine services, assessing and voicing user needs, capabilities, risks and benefits in relation to telemedicine.