Does variable training lead to variable care?

Entrants to anaesthesia training programs in the developed world are broadly comparable in terms of readiness for specialist training as a result of global standards established by the World Federation for Medical Education. While the context of national health systems has undeniable significance, the competencies required to provide anaesthesia for patients undergoing surgery should also be broadly comparable. In this issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Jonker and colleagues¹ report wide variability in anaesthesia training programmes across the European Union (EU), and variable certification processes. Could this potentially result in variable quality in patient care? Jonker and colleagues propose that variability of training and certification limits the easy movement of anaesthetists around the EU. National health systems around the world remain dependent on a mobile workforce, often trained in other jurisdictions. Determining if a foreign graduate is competent is a key concern for employers.

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