Medical Training a Casualty of Education Expense Reforms
Doctors face the difficult choice of paying higher out-of-pocket costs to pursue life-saving medical training courses or cutting back on these types of courses as a result of self-education expense reforms announced by the Government over the weekend.
Under the reforms, the tax deduction for work-related self-education expenses will be limited to $2,000 per person from 1 July 2014.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the Government has created a huge disincentive for doctors to pursue specialised education that could help save lives and improve the quality of life for many Australians.
“Medical training courses are very detailed and do not come cheap,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Australia has some of the most demanding medical training courses in the world, and the Medical Board of Australia and the Medical Colleges require doctors to maintain their skills through continuing professional development.
“A $2000 cap on tax deductions self-education expenses for doctors falls well below many basic course costs.
“For example, the Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training (ASSET) program costs $3280, the Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient course costs $2735, and a GP attending a Clinical Emergency Management Program (CEMP) workshops can face combined costs of over $3000.
“Many doctors will undertake more than one course a year in order to maintain and improve their qualifications.
“Australian doctors also travel overseas to learn about the latest medical research and innovations, innovative surgery techniques, and advances in overall patient care.
“Self-education costs for doctors are very high.
“The Government's proposed reforms will hit junior doctors, salaried doctors, GPs and other specialists, and patients.
“We urge the Government to reconsider these ill-informed changes,” Dr Hambleton said.
16 April 2013
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