Australia’s ongoing doctor shortage has become a critical issue, particularly as the country’s ageing medical workforce continues to retire, while younger doctors often work part-time. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has stressed the urgent need to address these shortages across various specialities, with general practice facing the most acute gaps.
Addressing the multicultural media yesterday, Butler acknowledged the significant progress made in increasing the number of medical practitioners over the past two years, with the highest increase in registrations seen in the last decade. Despite this, Australia still faces critical shortages, especially in general practice, which he described as the country’s most urgent healthcare challenge.
Younger doctors entering the system are working an average of just three days a week, creating a growing divide between demand for healthcare services and available practitioners.
In an effort to combat this, the government is offering incentives for junior doctors to pursue general practice over other specialities, such as surgery or anaesthetics, and has also created more medical school placements to boost the future workforce.
While these measures are part of Australia’s strategy to strengthen its healthcare system, Butler highlighted that international medical graduates (IMGs), many of whom are trained in countries like India, play a crucial role in filling these gaps.
“We’re already seeing more doctors from overseas joining our healthcare system,” he said, emphasising that the government is working to reduce bureaucratic hurdles that prevent skilled doctors from entering the workforce quickly.
One of the key issues faced by overseas-trained doctors is the extensive regulatory process, which Butler admitted can be overly burdensome. He cited the example of Indian nurses who often work in the UK or New Zealand before waiting years to gain approval to work in Australia.
“We make it too hard for them,” Butler conceded, noting that despite the high salaries on offer, the complex process is a major deterrent.
In response to these challenges, the government has launched a review of the regulatory arrangements for overseas-trained healthcare professionals. This review, led by Robyn Kruk from New South Wales Health, aims to streamline the process while maintaining high standards of healthcare quality.
Butler emphasised that while professional medical colleges, such as the College of General Practitioners and the College of Surgeons, may resist proposed changes, health ministers are pushing for reforms that prioritise patient care over institutional interests.
Butler cited a specific example from regional Queensland, where a major hospital with 15 funded anaesthetist positions had only filled four due to bureaucratic delays in the employment of qualified overseas-trained doctors.
The government is engaging in bilateral discussions with countries like India to create more seamless pathways for skilled migrants to contribute to the Australian healthcare system. While acknowledging that the accreditation process still needs work, Butler reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the doctor shortage by making it easier for international doctors to practice in Australia.
“We need these highly skilled migrants, and we are determined to make their transition into our healthcare system smoother,” he concluded.
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