Following an impressive oral presentation by Prof Adrian M. Agius (Malta), assisted by Prof John E. Fenton (Ireland), to the EU Parliament Petitions Committee in Brussels on the 14 May 2025, initial objectives were achieved as every MEP present from each political grouping voted to support petition 1171/2024 and to keep it open.

The petition expressed concern at the OMFS European training requirements controversially approved in October 2021 by the UEMS council supported by UEMS executive where 40% of the curriculum concerned competencies long held by ORL, without any assurance as to the quality of this training or its assessment. It was reaffirmed at the meeting that the UEMS is a private NGO with no formal role in defining surgical practice in Europe.

Special thanks from the petitioners goes to Peter Agius (MEP Malta) and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP Ireland) for their kind assistance with this petition which focused primarily on patient safety. For those wishing to show support, on the following link:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/petitions/en/petition/content/1171%252F2024/html/Title%253A%2BProtection%2Bof%2Bpatients%2Bof%2Bear%252C%2Blarynx%2Band%2Bsinuses%2Boperations%2Bfrom%2Brisks%2Barising%2Bfrom%2Bunqualified%2Bmedical%2Bprofessionals%2B%2B

Supporters must register initially, then will receive an email and link, with a further specific search for 171/2024, click ‘support’, then again ‘support’.

The real-time recording of the debate in the EU Parliament may be accessed via the following link for a limited period:

https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/aedc6f8c-b1d9-41bf-8a99-599e74898385

Maltese Society of ORL-HNS