Bonded medical places - a tragic day for medical training in Australia

Dr Haikerwal said it is the worst possible policy at the worst possible time for Australia's medical workforce.

"At a time of unprecedented doctor shortages, the Government's solution is to shackle medical students to a career path not of their choosing and without any financial support or incentive of any kind," Dr Haikerwal said.

"OECD and US studies have shown that bonding medical students does not help to improve medical services in areas of need.  It has led to serious morale and job satisfaction problems and is much less effective than targeted incentive programs in retaining doctors in areas of workforce shortage.

"Patients in areas of need deserve better policies than this to ensure access and affordability of their medical services.

"The bonded medical places will be filled, there is no doubt about that - some students will take a shot at a medical career at any cost.

"But will they be our brightest and best students?  Or our richest?

"This policy is fraught with danger.  It is impossible to train a medical workforce overnight.

"This policy will discourage these students from following a career in general practice, the area where the shortages are greatest.

"And there is nothing to stop graduates paying out their bonds at the end of their courses and practising where they choose.

"This is not to mention the social consequences of these draconian bonds.  Students as young as 18 are being asked to commit to a job and a lifestyle some ten years down the track.

"What if they marry or have kids?  Their partners and families are bonded as well.

"I wonder if Dr Nelson would have studied medicine if he had been confronted with an unfunded bonded medical place as the only path to being a doctor?  I doubt it.

"The AMA will continue to seek to have this backward policy dumped," Dr Haikerwal said.

CONTACT:         John Flannery            (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761