ACCC should acknowledge successes instead of looking for faults in training of medical specialists
An ACCC-commissioned report into medical college admission practices in Australia has confirmed that the practices are, in the main, satisfactory, AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today.
Dr Phelps said that, while some minor deficiencies were detected, the report is generally supportive of current practices - a result that does not seem to suit the ACCC's agenda.
Professor Jeff Borland, an economics professor from the University of Melbourne, prepared the report.
"The report covers all the colleges, but the ACCC has chosen to focus on one college in an effort to make some cheap political points at the expense of medical specialists and the Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee (AMWAC)," Dr Phelps said.
"Deficiencies in specialist training and specialist numbers are the result of a complex combination of inadequate funding for Australia's public teaching hospitals and a brain drain of senior specialists from the public sector.
"This is away from the control of the specialist colleges.
"The colleges provide their expert services and experience on a voluntary basis to ensure that the next generation of Australian patients will continue to have access to the best medical specialists in the world.
"Sadly, many of our specialists are being lost to the public hospital system because of declining morale and inadequate funding.
"Before the ACCC rushes off to investigate AMWAC or the colleges, it should seek to gain some understanding of the process and expert medical opinion to complement Professor Borland's expert economic viewpoint.
"The AMA is happy to be of assistance in this regard.
"The AMA is totally supportive of the excellent work being done by the colleges, and the tireless efforts, under great pressure, of Australia's medical specialists.
"They should not be subjected to unjustified harassment from the ACCC," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076