The Greek way to the Register: the establishment and operation of the Register for Clinical Chemists-Clinical Biochemists in Greece

Abstract

In Greece, there is no officially organized training in clinical chemistry for scientists. The Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry-Clinical Biochemistry (GSCC-CB), following the encouragement of the EC4/RC decided to organize a voluntary Register for specialists in clinical chemistry. The following criteria for registration were defined: 1) University degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy or other relevant subject. 2) A total of 9 years of university studies and postgraduate specialization in clinical chemistry-clinical biochemistry. 3) A minimum of 4 years of postgraduate specialization in clinical chemistry-clinical biochemistry on the job. 4) The candidate must be practicing clinical chemistry-clinical biochemistry in a laboratory in a medical environment in Greece. The postgraduate specialization in clinical chemistry-clinical biochemistry includes the laboratory training and the theoretical education. The laboratory training is organized by the GSCC-CB according to the Professional Training Dossier. The theoretical education was organized in a series of 18 "Seminars" which was the content of the "Educational program" of the GSCC-CB. Successful completion of the Educational program leads to a Certificate of Competence. The Greek Register has gained equivalence with the EC4 Register and it has 218 members, more than 80 of whom are European clinical chemists.

Reforming the Greek health system: A role for non-medical, clinical bioscientists

“…of the department of health), and the approval of the relative professional societies or chambers. This confusion of directives and laws has led the Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry-Clinical Biochemistry to organize a voluntary 5-year specialists training for scientists based on the EC4 Syllabus; therefore providing training equivalent to the standards of the European Register of Clinical Chemists, but outside the official Greek framework for laboratory medicine [8]. To add to this labyrinth, few months ago, in a newly-introduced law (law 3984/2011) regulating the operation of organ, tissue and cell banks, non-medical bioscientists were recognized as being able to supervise such facilities similarly to medical doctors and their participation in regulatory bodies was enhanced (in accordance to European standards and directives, for example the European Union directive 23/2004).…”