AMA advocacy behind single employer model pilot
The AMA says the Tasmanian pilot is a good first step in addressing workforce shortages in the state and hopes it will be scaled up to cover the whole GP training program across the Apple Isle.
The AMA says the Tasmanian pilot is a good first step in addressing workforce shortages in the state and hopes it will be scaled up to cover the whole GP training program across the Apple Isle.
The AMA’s hard work lobbying for single employer models for GP trainees is paying off.
This week the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments announced the pilot of a single employer model for GP trainees in the state and it’s hoped it is just the start of a nationwide roll out.
Under the pilot up to 20 medical trainees hoping to specialise in general practice will have the choice of being employed by the Tasmanian Health Service for their training period, ensuring comparable employment conditions to trainees working in other specialty areas.
The AMA has been a strong advocate for a single employer model to provide GP trainees with wages and conditions comparable with doctors training in other specialty areas in public hospitals.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said, “Given the pressure on general practice around the country, we encourage all states and territories to work with the Commonwealth to implement a single employer model for GP trainees”.
Professor Robson said the Commonwealth also needed to deliver a significant boost of funding, beyond the $750 million already allocated to Strengthen Medicare.
