AMA calls for improved support and supervision for IMG doctors
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, has written to Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, urging the Government to fund extra specialised support and supervision for international medical graduate (IMG) doctors, especially those working in rural and regional Australia.
The AMA recommends that new funding should be allocated to General Practice Education and Training (GPET), an organisation with the capacity and infrastructure to provide this additional support for IMG doctors working in general practice.
Dr Hambleton said today that the AMA has a long-standing interest in the role of IMG doctors in Australia.
“The AMA recognises the substantial contribution made by IMG doctors to the Australian health system, particularly over the last 15 years or so while our own locally produced medical workforce has been in undersupply,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The AMA has for many years been working with IMG doctors to help them navigate the Australian health system and we have supported measures that ensure IMG doctors are fully competent and qualified to practice in Australia.
“A particular ongoing concern has been poor access to supervision and oversight for many IMG doctors working in regional and rural general practice.
“This lack of support is unfair on IMGs, who are often working in very challenging environments and are professionally isolated,” Dr Hambleton said.
The AMA’s Rural Medical Committee and the AMA Council of General Practice developed measures to improve this situation, and referred them to the March meeting of the AMA Federal Council.
The AMA Federal Council resolved to call on the Federal Government to:
- provide General Practice Education and Training (GPET) with appropriate funding so that it can, in addition to supporting prevocational and vocational training, facilitate improved support and independent supervision/oversight for international medical graduates working in general practice who hold limited registration; and
- provide sufficient funding, through GPET, for General or Specialist Registrants to provide the appropriate level of independent supervision or oversight to ensure compliance with the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) Guidelines for Supervised Practice for Limited Registration (the Guidelines).
19 April 2012
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753