Media release

Medical board should fund doctors' health services

In a submission to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), the AMA is calling on the Board to fund better access to doctors' health services across the country.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the AMA’s submission to the MBA highlights the evidence that doctors are at greater risk of mental illness and stress-related problems and are more susceptible to substance abuse than the general population.

“In order to deliver high-quality health care to their patients and the community, and to experience medicine as a rewarding and satisfying career, doctors need to be well,” Dr Hambleton said.

“Research has consistently shown that doctors with healthy personal lifestyle habits are more likely to impart healthy behaviours to their patients.

“The experience of existing doctors’ health advisory services and the available evidence in the literature supports structured and accessible programs to assist doctors to maintain their health and access appropriate health services.

“This would be good for doctors and patients alike, and it could encourage doctors to engage earlier with high quality care.

“The AMA believes that doctors’ health advisory services are in the public interest and, as such, should be funded by the MBA from the existing pool of doctor registration fees,” Dr Hambleton said.

The AMA proposes that the MBA provide funding for existing doctors' health advisory services, which have established networks and strong local knowledge.  Prior to the introduction of national registration, the MBA funded services in some States.

While the MBA has a role to play in funding external doctors' health advisory services, funding arrangements must be structured so as to guarantee independence from the MBA and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.  This is essential if doctors are to trust these services and utilise them at an early stage in their illness.

Medical registration fees have increased dramatically since the introduction of national registration arrangements, so the AMA recommends that these services should be funded from the existing registration fees paid by the profession.

Prior to lodging the submission, the AMA surveyed members to get their views on doctors’ health services.  Nearly 75 per cent of the 2057 survey respondents agreed that doctors’ health advisory services are an essential support for medical practitioners, particularly in times of distress.

The AMA submission to the Medical Board of Australia is available at http://ama.com.au/node/7695


12 April 2012

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