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Version Superseded: 11/02/2010
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Medical Act 1983, Section 55 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 June 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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[F1(1)]In this Act—
“acceptable overseas qualification” has the meaning given by [F2section 21B(2)] above;
[F3“acceptable programme for provisionally registered doctors” has the meaning given by section 10A(1) above;]
“additional qualification” has the meaning given by section 16(2) above;
F4...
F4...
[F5“competent authority” means any authority or body of a relevant European State designated by that State for the purposes of the Directive as competent to—
receive or issue evidence of qualifications or other information or documents, or
receive applications and take the decisions referred to in the Directive,
in connection with the practice of medicine;]
[F5“the Directive” has the meaning given by section 5(4) above;]
F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“disqualifying decision” has the meaning given by section 44(2) above;
F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F4...
[F8“exempt person” has the meaning given in section 19(2) above;
F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F10“fully registered person” means a person for the time being registered under section 3, 14A, [F1118A,] 19, 19A, 21B, 27A or 27B above as a fully registered medical practitioner, or under Schedule 2A as a visiting medical practitioner from a relevant European State, and—]
and “fully registered” shall be construed accordingly;
“the General Council” means the General Medical Council;
[F14“the General Systems Regulations” means the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2781);]
[F8“impaired”, in relation to a person’s fitness to practise, has the meaning given in section 35C(2) above;
F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“national”, in relation to a [F16relevant European State], has the same meaning as in the Community Treaties, but does not include a person who by virtue of Article 2 of Protocol No. 3 (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) to the Treaty of Accession is not to benefit from Community provisions relating to the free movement of persons and services;
“the necessary knowledge of English”, in relation to an applicant for registration under this Act, means the knowledge which, in the interests of himself and his patients, is necessary for the practice of medicine in the United Kingdom;
F4...
F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“the prescribed knowledge and skill” has the meaning given by section 5(4) above;
F18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“the prescribed standard of proficiency” has the meaning given by section 5(4) above;
“primary European qualification” shall be construed in accordance with section 17 above;
“primary United Kingdom qualification” has the meaning given by section 4(3) above;
[F8“professional performance” includes a medical practitioner’s professional competence;]
“provisionally registered” means provisionally registered under section 15 , [F1915A, 21 or 21C] above;
“qualification”, except where the context otherwise requires, means any diploma, degree, fellowship, membership, licence, authority to practise, letters testimonial, certificate or other status or document granted in respect of any branch or branches of medicine by any university, corporation, college or other body or by any department of, or persons acting under the authority of, the government of any country or place;
F20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F21“the register” means the register of medical practitioners;]
“the Registrar” has the meaning given by section 2(1) above but subject to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 to this Act;
[F22“relevant European State” means an EEA State or Switzerland;]
[F8“revalidation” has the meaning given in section 29A above;]
F23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F8“the statutory committees” has the meaning given in section 1(3A) above;]
[F24(2)In relation to anything done before the adoption by the Council of Directive 93/16/EEC, references in this Act to [F25the Directive], or to any provision of [F25the Directive], shall be construed as references to, or to the corresponding provision of, the following Directives as for the time being amended, namely—
(a)Council Directive No.75/362/EEC concerning the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in medicine; and
(b)Council Directive No.75/363/EEC concerning the coordination of provisions in respect of activities of doctors.]
[F26(3)In relation to anything done—
(a)before the adoption by the Council and the European Parliament of the Directive, but
(b)after the adoption by the Council of Directive 93/16/EEC,
references in this Act to the Directive, or to any provision of the Directive, shall be construed as references to, or to any corresponding provision of, Directive 93/16/EEC as for the time being amended.
(4)In this section, “Directive 93/16/EEC” means Council Directive 93/16/EEC of 5th April 1993 to facilitate the free movement of doctors and the mutual recognition of their diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications (OJ No. L165, 7.7.93, p.1).]]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 55 renumbered as s. 55(1) (10.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1591, reg. 7, Sch. 2 para. 13(1)
F2Words in s. 55(1) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 41(a)
F3Words in s. 55(1) inserted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 33(a)
F4Words in s. 55(1) omitted (1.1.2009) by virtue of The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 20(b); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(2)(a)(ii)
F5Words in s. 55(1) inserted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(i)
F6Words in s. 55(1) omitted (3.12.2007) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(ii)
F7Words in s. 55(1) omitted (3.12.2007) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(iii)
F8Words in s. 55(1) inserted (17.12.2002 for specified purposes, 7.7.2004, 1.11.2004, 8.9.2009 for specified purposes as notified in the London Gazette dated 21.8.2009) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3135), arts. 1(2)(h), 15(6)(c) (with Sch. 2)
F9Definition in s. 55(1) repealed (10.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1591, reg. 7, Sch. 2 para. 13(2)(c)(f)
F10Words in s. 55(1) substituted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(iv)
F11Words in s. 55(1) inserted (9.7.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(2)(b), Sch. 1 para. 20(a)
F12Words in s. 55(1) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 41(b)(ii)
F13Words in s. 55(1) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 15(a)
F14Words in s. 55(1) inserted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(v)
F15Words in s. 55(1) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 15(b)
F16Words in s. 55(1) substituted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(vi)
F17Words in s. 55(1) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 15(c)
F18Words in s. 55(1) omitted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 1.8.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), art. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 33(b)
F19Words in s. 55(1) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 41(c)
F20In s. 55(1) definition of "recognised overseas qualification" omitted (17.12.2002) by virtue of The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3135), arts. 1(2)(h), 15(6)(a) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 2)
F21Words in s. 55(1) substituted (19.7.2006 for specified purposes, 19.10.2007 in so far as not already in force as notified in the London Gazette dated 20.7.2007) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1914), arts. 1(2)(b)(c)(3), 15(d)
F22Words in s. 55(1) inserted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(a)(vii)
F23Definition in s. 55(1) repealed (10.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1591, reg. 7, Sch. 2 para. 13(2)(c)(f)
F24S. 55(2) inserted (10.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1591, reg. 7, Sch. 2 para. 13(3)
F25Words in s. 55(2) substituted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(b)
F26S. 55(3)(4) inserted (3.12.2007) by The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3101), regs. 1(2), 29(c)
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