Developing European standards in training

Since its foundation more than 60 years ago, the UEMS is convinced that the quality of care is directly linked to the quality of training of the healthcare professionals.

The bodies within the Surgery sections have developed or are developing European Training Requirements (ETRs).

The purpose of the ETR is to provide specialty-based recommendations involving the expected competencies that a specialist trainee, a specialist, and specialist training institutions are expected to possess through formalised training and organisation.

At the end of the day, it would assure European standards in these specialties, with requirements which reflect modern medical practice and current scientific findings. It is a complement to the definition by national authorities of the content of postgraduate training in their own countries.

ETRs are not only useful for the UEMS Division, Working Group or Multidisciplinary Joint Committee which designed it, but provides excellent guidelines for the national competent authorities of European and extra-European countries.

As of today, there are some Divisions of the UEMS Section of Surgery which have finalised and have their European Training Requirements approved by the Council of the UEMS:

• Transplant Surgery adopted in 2018
• General Surgery adopted in 2021
• Endocrine Surgery adopted in 2022