Foreign doctors are being fast-tracked into the country to treat Australian patients as health ministers try to address the nation’s workforce shortage.
From next Monday, doctors from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand will be able to bypass an assessment by the Royal Australian College of GPS in a new pathway that was approved this month by the federal government.
It means they will be able to apply for specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APRAH) without first being assessed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
But the RACGP has raised concerns that one in five doctors from those countries fail its tests on communication or professionalism grounds, or because they need extra training.
RACGP President Nicole Higgins says the government was taking a “rushed approach” and risked compromising patient safety.
“Australia’s health ministers and AHPRA have pushed this through regardless of the major risks, unanswered questions, and lack of detail about how a GP’s suitability to practice will be assessed, just a week before it’s due to be implemented,” she said.
“We all hope it will work as planned, but you don’t guarantee the safety of patients and well-being of doctors with hope, you need appropriate processes.”
Health Minister Mark Butler insists the reforms will not compromise Australia’s robust safety standards.
He is assuring patients that under this new pathway, doctors will still need to meet the same language and background criminal checks. They will also undergo six months of supervision as they settle in.
A review held last year by retired public servant Robyn Kruk urged the government to fast-track the accreditation process for overseas doctors.
