Strengthening support for international medical graduates in Ireland

I recently had the pleasure of joining Dr Rob Hendry, Dr Pallavi Bradshaw and Dr Sarah Townley on their visit to Ireland, where we signed new partnership agreements with three international medical groups. Together, we met with the Association of Irish Pakistani Physicians & Surgeons (AIPPS), the Irish Pakistani Professionals Association (IPPA) and the Sudanese Doctors Union of Ireland (SDUI) to sign partnerships. This reinforces our shared commitment to ensuring international medical graduates (IMGs) have the medicolegal support and professional protection they need to practise safely and advance their careers in Ireland. 

IMGs make an enormous contribution to patient care and to the wider health service. According to the Medical Council’s 2024 Medical Workforce Intelligence Report, 5,830 IMGs are currently practising in Ireland – representing 27.8% of the medical workforce, up from 23.3% in 2022. Of these, almost 40% qualified in Pakistan and over 20% in Sudan. 

For many doctors new to Ireland, navigating the healthcare system can be challenging. Research published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in 2025 highlighted that a significant number of IMGs have limited understanding of medical indemnity requirements, often due to a lack of formal education or clear guidance during induction. These gaps can leave doctors vulnerable to personal, financial, and reputational risk. 

Medical Protection supports more than 16,000 healthcare professionals across Ireland, and we believe that strong relationships with AIPPS, IPPA, and SDUI will help ensure IMGs feel informed, supported, and confident about their professional protection from the very beginning of their careers here. 

The positivity and warmth throughout these conversations were unmistakable and something that really shines through in the photo included in this article.