AMA objects to unfair registration fee increases

AMA President Professor Steve Robson wrote to health ministers across the country this week to express the AMA’s objection to the increase in medical registration fees due to take effect soon.

The letters to all state and territory health ministers, and federal Minister for Health Mark Butler, follow advice received by the AMA that Ahpra's registration fees are expected to increase by about 16 per cent for next year.

In the letters to the ministers Professor Robson expressed his objection to the hike in fees noting “much of this increase being driven by initiatives that have been determined by health ministers.”

“This includes cosmetic surgery reforms and efforts to support the recruitment of international medical graduates.”

Professor Robson told ministers additional funding of Ahpra for these important regulatory functions should come from governments, rather than shifting the burden onto doctors themselves.

In the letter he said “that there is a strong case for the Health Ministers’ meeting to consider additional funding for Ahpra so that it can perform its usual functions effectively while also being able to satisfy the increasing demands being placed on it by Health Ministers.”