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Klinisk Biokemi i Norden · 3 2013
The role of clinical chemistry in UEMS
Lena Norlund
Sunderby sjukhus, Luleå
As part of my role in UEMS as president of the
section of Laboratory medicine, I have been asked
by Klinisk Biokemi i Norden to update everyone
on what is currently happening regarding clinical
chemistry from a European perspective.
To ensure that there is no con-
fusion, I will first start by provi-
ding a summary of what UEMS is
.
The European Union of Medical
Specialists (UEMS) is the oldest
medical organisation in EU. It cele-
brated its 50
th
anniversary in 2008.
With a current membership of 34
countries, it is the representative organisation of the
National Associations of Medical Specialists in the
European Union and its associated countries. UEMS
represents over 1.6 million medical specialists in all the
various specialities. The organisation also has strong
links and relations with the European Commission
and Parliament, other independent European Medical
Organisations, and the European Medical/ Scientific
Societies, see Fig 1.
The structure of UEMS, see Fig. 2 below, consist of a
Council responsible for and working through about 40
Specialists Sections and European Boards that address
training in their respective Specialty as well as incor-
porate representatives from academia (e.g. colleges,
universities). The President, the Secretary-General,
the Liaison Officer, and the Treasurer comprise the
people responsible for the routine functioning of the
organisation.
By its agreed upon documents, the UEMS sets
standards for high quality healthcare practices that are
transmitted to the authorities and institutions of the
Fig. 1.
UEMS political
involvement
