Fit-for-purpose medical workforces
The latest MJA Podcast focuses on the concept of a fit-for-purpose medical workforce, with unique insights provided by Professor Roger Strasser from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Professer Strasser defines the fit-for-purpose medical workforce as one where doctors have the right skills and provide the right care at the right place and at the right time.
Professor Strasser indicates that the situation in Australia is one where the medical workforce is not currently fit-for-purpose, and that there are currently complicated and fragmented components of supply. Some of the problems contributing to this include an increase in domestic medical graduates, the prediction that huge number of doctors would retire by 2025, and a lack of coordination across medical training pathways.
Professer Strasser says there needs to be collective agreement and action from across the board in addressing issues. Development of a training pathway is needed, mixing generalist and specialist numbers to properly address needs. The AMA is working with the National Rural Health Commissioner to develop such a pathway for rural generalists.
To hear more, the podcast is available here.
