Background
Based on an amendment to the Act on Authorization of Healthcare Professionals and Healthcare Activities, the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) can grant authorization to individuals who have completed a Danish education in osteopathy or a foreign education that is considered equivalent. Currently, there is no Danish education in osteopathy, which is why a provision was included in the bill that the Danish Patient Safety Authority should establish detailed regulations on the authorization of osteopaths.
In Executive Order No. 981 of June 28, 2018, on the Authorization of Osteopaths, the Danish Patient Safety Authority has set a number of conditions for applicants' education that must be met for the authority to grant authorization as an osteopath.
Requirements are set for the level, duration, and content of the education.
Section 10 of Executive Order No. 981 of June 28, 2018, on the Authorization of Osteopaths stipulates that the Danish Patient Safety Authority must establish an advisory forum.
The fact that there is no Danish education in osteopathy means that the education of all applicants must be assessed individually. Furthermore, this is a new professional group that needs to be authorized, which means that the Danish Patient Safety Authority has limited knowledge of the educational background of potential applicants.
Tasks of the Advisory Forum
To advise the Danish Patient Safety Authority:
- In the assessment of whether the education of individual applicants meets the content requirements.
- In the assessment of foreign educations.
- When there is a need to adjust the content of Annex 1 to the Executive Order on the Authorization of Osteopaths.
The Danish Patient Safety Authority wishes to consider the viewpoints of the advisory forum in its decisions, but the assessments of the advisory forum are not binding on the Danish Patient Safety Authority.
Composition
The advisory forum consists of members appointed by professional organizations, associations, relevant authorities, and potential employers and educational institutions.
The Danish Patient Safety Authority serves as the chair and secretariat of the advisory forum.
Meeting Organization
The advisory forum is expected to hold meetings once a quarter and as needed. The duration of the meetings is adjusted according to the agenda.
The Danish Patient Safety Authority is responsible for convening the meetings and preparing the agenda and minutes. Proposed agendas are sent to the secretariat no later than three weeks before the meeting date. The secretariat sends the agenda and any materials to the advisory forum no later than two weeks before the meeting.
Summaries of the meetings are written and published on the Danish Patient Safety Authority's website. It is expected that the handling of personal cases will be omitted from the public summary.