14 Nov 2006

France restates terms for hiring doctors in French Polynesia

4:58 pm on 14 November 2006

The French high commission in Papeete has re-stated that all doctors planning to practice in French Polynesia are subject to the rules that apply in France.

It has issued a statement just days after the territory's health minister, Pia Hiro, resigned, citing as one reason the government's plan to send student to the Fiji Medical School and to consider hiring Chinese doctors.

The high commission says any doctor, dentist or midwife with qualifications from outside the European Union needs to be certified by France.

It says the autonomy statute has no bearing on the French state's role of being responsible for the recognition of diplomas and qualifications.