Solving the medical intern shortage
AMA Position Statement on National Intern Allocation
The AMA today released its Position Statement on National Intern Allocation.
In 2013, there will be 3326 graduates of Australian medical schools competing for only 3091 currently available positions.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the AMA has been lobbying all Australian governments to address the intern shortage as a matter of urgency.
“We are pleased that this matter has now made it on to the Federal Government’s priority list,” Dr Hambleton said.
“I met with Health Minister Tanya Plibersek this morning and she assured me that the Federal Government is determined to resolve this issue.
“The AMA is keen to help the Government achieve a favourable outcome, which will require the full cooperation of the States and Territories.
“We need a quick solution so that medical graduates have some certainty regarding their future and so we can continue to train the appropriate number of highly trained doctors to serve community needs.
“The AMA policy sets out a way to improve the efficiency of intern allocation processes so that medical school graduates do not have to apply to multiple States or Territories for an intern place.
“Not only will this simplify the process for graduates, it will help address many of the weaknesses in the current system that result in duplication and delay the allocation of places.
“Our policy would provide greater certainty in the allocation of intern places, but it will not solve the expected shortage of intern training positions.
“The quick solution is to immediately expand the number of available intern places.
“If things do not change, many medical graduates will next year be unable to enter the medical workforce.”
The AMA Position Statement on National Intern Allocation is at http://ama.com.au/node/7384
The Commonwealth has recognised the need for more doctors and, since 2004, medical student numbers have expanded dramatically. By 2016, there will be around 3970 medical graduates finishing medical school each year. Unfortunately, no plan has been developed to ensure that there are enough prevocational and vocational training positions for these graduates once they leave medical school.
Health Workforce Australia predicts that, without changes, there will be a shortage of 451 specialist training positions in 2016.
6 September 2012
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753