Nationals off track on doctor regulation by a country mile

Dr Glasson said it was strange for The Nationals to be placing further hurdles in front of doctors who may be seeking to practice in regional areas at a time of chronic doctor shortages in country Australia.

"The Nationals may have a new name and a new logo but doctor regulation is very old thinking,' Dr Glasson said.

"The current slump in the medical workforce is directly linked to excessive regulation of doctors.

"This is why the Prime Minister established a Red Tape Task Force to reduce and streamline regulations and bureaucratic intervention.

"The AMA understands the difficulties faced by rural communities in recruiting and retaining doctors and other health resources, but policies aimed at conscripting or dragooning doctors will only worsen the situation.

"Doctors traditionally take on rural practice for part of their working life but need the flexibility to move to the cities if their personal circumstances demand it.

"This could be for spouse employment, kids' education, further medical training, or lifestyle changes.

"Removing this flexibility would only turn more and more doctors away from country practice.

"The experience in Australia and overseas is that incentive, not conscription, will get doctors to move to regional areas and stay there for the long term.

"The policy put forward by The Nationals misses this objective by a country mile," Dr Glasson said.

Dr Glasson said the AMA does, however, welcome the commitment shown by Nationals leader, John Anderson, to work with Health Minister, Tony Abbott, to fix the medical indemnity system and improve the Fairer Medicare package, including a review of the bonded medical student issue.

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