The HSE has written to all Indian and Pakistani doctors who failed the recent Medical Council registration examination, urging them to return to their respective countries.
In the letter – a copy of which has been seen by Metro Éireann – Andrew Condon, general manager at the HSE’s office of the national director of human resources, stressed that going back to their home countries was the only option for them.
He wrote: “You will recall that the HSE wrote to you in October 2011 noting that while the offer of contract commenced from 11 July 2011, it was being extended pending the outcome of examinations for registration with the Medical Council in November 2011.
“You were informed that the HSE would pay for your flight (up to €700) and Medical Council registration costs and provide food and accommodation until the exam results are issued. The HSE noted that if you passed the exam it would continue those supports until you were registered.
“The HSE also stated that if you failed the Supervised Division examination, you should return home and you could travel to Ireland later in 2012 if you wished to sit the repeat examination.”
Metro Éireann understands that out of the 62 candidates who were unsuccessful in the examination, more than half were recruited from India and Pakistan by the HSE to fill a serious gap in hospital vacancies.
A source close to the doctors told Metro Éireann that they would like to stay in Ireland to appeal the result of the examination and also to re-sit the examination.
Condon said in the letter that he had contacted the council to find out the procedure for appeals and that a breakdown of the result was due to be posted to the doctors in early January.
“If a candidate remains dissatisfied after they have received their results, they may appeal their results. Details relating to how to appeal the ESD Level 2 results will be provided in the results letter, ” he wrote. “Until letters are issued to unsuccessful candidates and the candidates have an opportunity to review the results they cannot appeal.”
Condon added that it was likely the appeals process will take “some time” and that the next Medical Council supervised division examination will take some months before it is scheduled, adding that they should return home but are welcome to sit a future examination should they wish to work in Ireland in the future.
“The HSE cannot employ doctors who do not hold appropriate Medical Council registration, irrespective of whether they have obtained registration or passed examinations in other countries,” wrote Condon.
However, a source close to the doctors said he strongly believes that they were failed because they were no longer needed, as the HSE had filled its vacancies.
Another source, a Pakistani doctor who is fully registered to work here, said: “We are very happy with the HSE, we’re not complaining against [their policy].”
He said the Pakistani doctors were told before arriving here that they would have three attempts to pass the examination. But upon arrival, the HSE confirmed that they must return to Pakistan if they failed, ahead of any future re-sit
“This is a six month gap,” he said. “What would they do if they go back? A gap in their career would destroy them [professionally].”
A spokesperson for the Medical Council stressed to Metro Éireann that this particular exam – a clinical exams which replicates the typical working environment – was only one of many conducted by medical training bodies on behalf of the council, and made clear that the recruitment and registration processes “are entirely separate”.
She added: “Candidates have three opportunities to pass the clinical examinations for the supervised division. No date has been set for future examinations to the supervised division.”
Meanwhile, the HSE maintained that the recruitment drive in India and Pakistan “has largely been a success, with 290 high quality doctors now working in Irish hospitals.”
Dr Philip Crowley of the HSE commented: “A failure rate of 20 per cent overall is not out of line with international rates and is testament to the fact that we have a rigorous process in place to test the competencies of doctors to ensure a high quality of care for patients.”
The HSE also confirmed that there are around 60 posts which have yet to be filled – compared to 200 this time last year – many of which will be filled by locum or agency doctors “in line with service needs”.
