The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) has released new details of its plan to fast-track certain internationally qualified medical specialists into the national health system without the need to sit exams.
The consultation is part of major workforce reforms following the ‘Kruk Review’ into removing “unnecessary regulatory barriers” faced by internationally qualified health professionals. It’s hoped cutting red tape will make Australia a more attractive destination for foreign health professionals and alleviate workforce pressures, leading to better healthcare for the population.
The MBA has released a draft consultation, but timelines are compressed – closing 3 July 2024 to meet reform deadlines set by Australia’s health ministers.
The proposed fast-track pathway uses an existing provision in the National Law and will sit alongside the existing specialist medical college assessment system, including RANZCO, which will remain in place for specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) who are not eligible for the expedited pathway.
The board said the expedited pathway would recognise specific overseas specialist medical qualifications and grant upfront specialist registration to eligible doctors.
“The board, with input from the Australian Medical Council and specialist medical colleges, will develop and publish a list of qualifications that it considers are substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to an approved specialist qualification for the specialty,” the consultation paper stated.
“The expedited pathway will not require a college assessment of the individual.”
However, initial conditions on their registration will be imposed as a safeguard while the new recruits are inducted into Australia’s healthcare system.
GPs, anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and psychiatrists are the priority specialties for now, with the fast-track pathway targeted to start for GPs in October 2024, and December 2024 for other priority medical specialties.
Although the ophthalmology workforce is somewhat strained, it wasn’t listed as a priority specialty. A 2018 workforce report shows 12 ophthalmology SIMGs join the workforce annually.
The scope of the consultation also doesn’t appear to detail how overseas trained specialists ineligible for the fast-track pathway will be vetted and approved. In May 2024, Insight reported concerns this responsibility, including equivalence assessments, could be transferred from RANZCO and other medical colleges to the Australian Medical Colleges.
Recently, RANZCO representatives attended a workshop organised by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) in Sydney where “pressing health workforce issues facing the country” were addressed.
“[It was] a productive CPMC meeting where we had the opportunity to listen, learn and collaborate on issues affecting our communities and the roles colleges and government can play in ensuring safe and effective care for all communities across Australia,” RANZCO said in a statement to Insight.
Meanwhile, Ahpra and MBA have set up a taskforce to develop the new expedited pathway, with MBA consulting the specialist colleges for the priority medical specialities to finalise the list of qualifications that will be the gateway to fast-track registration.
The board’s SIMG Taskforce lead, Dr Susan O’Dwyer, encouraged all agencies and individuals involved recruiting and employing SIMGs to take part in the consultation.
“Australia has a complicated health system with shared responsibilities and accountabilities across agencies. We also share many common goals – most importantly, to enable safe medical care for Australians who need it, when they need it,” she said.
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