Table 3.

Infectious diseases training programmes under development

Country	Details
Austria	The Austrian Society for Infectious Diseases has applied to the Austrian Chamber of Physicians and the Ministry of Health for infectious diseases to be accepted as a recognised specialty. The current entry requirement is completion of training in internal medicine or microbiology, and there is an exit examination.
Germany	A training programme is under development (as a sub-specialty of internal medicine), and still requires official national recognition. The current entry requirement is for full training in internal medicine (minimum 3 years). The supervision process requires qualification as a specialist in internal medicine, certified by the German Society for Infectious Diseases. At the end of the course, individuals sit an exit examination, which is approved by the Committee for Training and Education of the German Society for Infectious Diseases.
South Africa	When the questionnaire was completed, infectious diseases was about to be recognised as a sub-specialty. Since then, L Blumberg of the Infectious Diseases Society of South Africa informed us that it was recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa in the latter half of 2004. The programme is likely to consist of 2 years of specialisation after training as a general physician, paediatrician, or microbiologist. Microbiologists will require 3 years of clinical training. The exit examination will be likely to operate through the College of Medicine of South Africa and overall supervision will be by the university medical schools. Authority for approval of the course will be by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.