Healthcare professions

Members of the healthcare professions must immediately notify the local health authority responsible for the place of work of the start and end of self-employed professional practice, stating the address of the place of business, and provide proof of authorisation to practise the profession or use the professional title by means of a certified copy of the licence certificate or a certificate of completion. Subsequent changes, including a change of surname, must also be reported.

If the professional authorisations are not complied with or the professional obligations are not fulfilled, the public health department will inform the authority responsible for the licence to use the professional title.

Anyone wishing to practise medicine generally requires a medical licence. An exception to this is, for example, the professional field of alternative practitioners. They are also permitted to practise medicine professionally, provided that a corresponding licence has been issued beforehand. To this end, it is necessary to prove the required knowledge by passing an examination.

These regulations apply accordingly to alternative practitioners.

There is also a duty of disclosure for persons who offer or provide nursing, geriatric or curative care services on a self-employed basis in return for payment. The local health authority responsible for the place of business must be informed immediately, stating the name, address and, if applicable, the name and address of the facility. This notification must be accompanied by a certificate of authorisation to use a professional title or a description of the professional training together with a certificate of good conduct and a medical certificate stating that there are no indications that the person subject to the notification requirement is unsuitable to carry out the intended care activity.

Anyone who employs carers as part of this self-employed activity must also notify the public health department immediately, stating the name, address, professional training of each carer and the name of the lead carer; the above-mentioned documents must be submitted for each of these persons.

The notification obligations apply accordingly to activities of the rescue service, emergency rescue and patient transport services