Recognition of medical oncology as a professional qualification at EU level

ESMO works actively for the recognition of medical oncology as an independent medical specialty at the EU level to assure all cancer patients access to optimal treatment and care.

ESMO promotes the recognition of medical oncology for the following reasons:

• For any medical specialty, 'high level qualification' is a pre-requisite to ensure high quality treatment
• In a single market offering free movement of citizens, patients, professionals, and services, the recognition of a medical specialty at the EU level ensures the recognition of high professional qualification
• Free movement of specialists helps to spread and share knowledge, experience, and expertise which are essential in a field like the one of medical oncology.

Oncology treatment has undergone major changes over the last couple of decades thanks to a steady increase in the knowledge of the biology of the disease and concomitant improvements in treatment strategy.

In this context, medical oncologists deliver cancer therapies.

The development of new cancer drugs, which have novel mechanisms of action, as well as the increasing importance of pharmacogenomic considerations in the optimization of treatment, require medical oncologists to undergo very specific education and training in order to ensure extensive knowledge of drug treatment, administration, and side-effects.

Medical oncologists work as part of the integrated, multidisciplinary team and play a pivotal role in liaising with primary care, clinical oncologists, and other medical and surgical specialists in the cancer center and unit

To obtain recognition, medical oncology should be included in the Annex 5.1.3 of the Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. This Directive has the purpose to enable EU citizens to move freely, to establish themselves, or provide services anywhere in the EU. This Directive makes the labor markets more flexible, liberalizes the provision of services, encourages more automatic recognition of qualifications and simplifies administrative procedures.

The Committee for the recognition of professional qualifications meets regularly at the initiative of the European Commission (Internal market and Services Directorate General/ Knowledge-based Economy).

The national delegates of this Committee are appointed by the Member States. They come from Ministries and have experience in different fields: cancer, public health, research, science, education, etc. It is the responsibility of the Committee to vote on this matter once the European Commission decides the voting date. The qualified majority needs to be obtained.

Reference documents

- ESMO Position Paper on the need for recognition of medical oncology at EU level

- Dr. B. Zakotnik Presentation during the Meeting concerning the implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications organized by the European Commission, 29th June 2007, Brussels

- Question to the European Commission by MEP Adamos Adamou and answer by the Commission