Proper workforce planning needed to address shortages
The Australian Medical Association is calling for more effective planning to ensure the future medical workforce meets community need, as well as better support for international medical graduates adjusting to the Australian health system.
In a submission on the interim report of the Independent Review of Overseas Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings, the AMA has expressed its general support for efforts to streamline migration and registration processes for overseas health professionals seeking to work in Australia.
AMA President Steve Robson said streamlining the migration process would help address serious workforce shortages, but more effective planning was needed instead of piecemeal solutions like simply increasing the intake of overseas health professionals.
“The sheer lack of staff in a wide range of health professions is causing patients to wait longer for care, so we should be looking at how we speed up the unnecessarily complex visa system for international medical graduates and other health care professionals,” Professor Robson said.
“But there needs to be a comprehensive solution, backed by policies that legitimately encourage international medical graduates to work in the locations and areas of practice where they are most needed.”
The AMA’s submission calls for the reinstatement of an independent health workforce planning agency to create training, recruitment and retention initiatives backed by credible research.
The AMA did not support the interim report’s recommendation to transfer the medical colleges’ assessment process for international graduates in specialist fields to the Australian Medical Council.
“This recommended change would undermine the colleges’ very important role in setting the standards for medical practice,” Professor Robson said.
“Australian trained doctors are among the best in the world, and it is important international medical graduates working here are of the same standard.”
The AMA’s submission also emphasised the importance of providing adequate support to international medical graduates, who often work in rural and remote Australia and struggle to navigate the country’s health system.
“International medical graduates tell us they don’t receive appropriate support to help them adjust to working and living in Australia. Sadly, they report high levels of racism, discrimination and prejudice, which is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately.”
