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Brussels, 10.09.2003

Decision regarding doctor's on Call Service: Protecting doctors and patients

Increasing the quality of health care -
improving efficiency

Brussels, 10.09.2003
The European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) welcomes the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union to recognise the time doctors spend on on-Call Service as working hours. This decision means that what is already realized as 'protection of employees' in many sectors is finally also being recognised in the health care sector - i.e. that an employee is regarded as 'working' during the entire time that he or she spends following his or her employers' instructions.

With regard to doctors, the new decision does, however, also mean increased safety for patients, who can from now on rely on being treated by doctors that are not affected by exhaustion. This decision should also be seen as an opportunity to further increase the quality of health care and represents an obligation to not only develop existing economic resources in the health care sector, but also to create the new jobs that are required.

The EUCDW therefore calls upon governments to not invest in strategies to legally circumvent this decision, but to implement it within the foreseeable future. At the same time, governments should aim to offer high quality health care at a low cost by realising the opportunities presented by increasing cross-border co-operation and exchange of experiences.

The European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) consists of 23 workers' organisations from 15 countries and is an association of the European People's Party (EPP).

responsible: Elmar Brok MEP, President.

EUCDW
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers
c/o EPP, Rue du Commerce / Handelsstraat 10
B-1000 Brussels
E-mail: EUCDW

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