Education and training in clinical chemistry in the EU: Lessons from the experiences

Summary: This paper describes the history of FESCC (Forum of the European Societies of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine), the actual fields of major activities and the key issues in Europe. The mission of FESCC is to support and promote clinical chemistry in Europe, to aid interactions with IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry), to develop education and quality in the discipline and to encourage young scientists to take an active role in these activities. The total quality systems in medical and clinical laboratories and accreditation of these laboratories is gaining more and more interest. Laboratory specialists are confronted with a new way of thinking concerning the management and the daily practice of their laboratories. Particularly in the European Union (EU), harmonization of criteria for quality systems is desirable. The freedom of movement and goods within the EU has a large impact for the member states. FESCC launched surveys in Europe on accreditation of medical laboratories and training with special attentions to postgraduate education of the profession. A second survey was launched to gather more information about the managerial situation of the specialists in clinical chemistry in Europe. The harmonization of the profession in one of the challenges for the European specialists in clinical chemistry and for FESCC a major task. Factors defining the future of laboratory medicine are treated.