Migration Help
9th October 2009, 11:45 PM
RED TAPE has blown out the recruitment of overseas-trained doctors by as much as 2 1/2 years, despite a shortage of medical practitioners.
Experts say the impediments have made Australia a "nightmare" for permanent residency applications, which is resulting in qualified GPs and specialists choosing Canada and New Zealand instead.
On the one hand the changes to medical accreditation rules and regulations are a nightmare. The recruitment process has become dysfunctional as the medical fraternity has chopped and changed its rules so often it has made it difficult for recuriters us to guide people through the system.
Many specialists were getting "cold feet" which is resulting in Australia losing doctors hand over fist. Word on the grapevine, particularly in South Africa, is that Australia is just too hard.
Other commentators, however, blame the Immigration Department, saying staff cutbacks had led to delays in processing of visa applications. On top of the visa requirements, it can take a year for the medical accreditation process. "Apart from people who like the sun and lifestyle or happen to marry an Australian, Australia is the last place they come to now," President Andrew Schwartz said. "It's the worst country to get your accreditation recognised. It's an absolute nightmare."
The Australian Medical Association, however, made no apologies for the blowouts in processing because that helped avoid the mistakes highlighted by the case of Queensland doctor Jayant Patel.
"It's ultimately about patient safety," AMA (SA) President Andrew Lavender said.
"We shouldn't be looking at a fast-tracked process that might risk undermining the high standards and quality of training we have in Australia."
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Experts say the impediments have made Australia a "nightmare" for permanent residency applications, which is resulting in qualified GPs and specialists choosing Canada and New Zealand instead.
On the one hand the changes to medical accreditation rules and regulations are a nightmare. The recruitment process has become dysfunctional as the medical fraternity has chopped and changed its rules so often it has made it difficult for recuriters us to guide people through the system.
Many specialists were getting "cold feet" which is resulting in Australia losing doctors hand over fist. Word on the grapevine, particularly in South Africa, is that Australia is just too hard.
Other commentators, however, blame the Immigration Department, saying staff cutbacks had led to delays in processing of visa applications. On top of the visa requirements, it can take a year for the medical accreditation process. "Apart from people who like the sun and lifestyle or happen to marry an Australian, Australia is the last place they come to now," President Andrew Schwartz said. "It's the worst country to get your accreditation recognised. It's an absolute nightmare."
The Australian Medical Association, however, made no apologies for the blowouts in processing because that helped avoid the mistakes highlighted by the case of Queensland doctor Jayant Patel.
"It's ultimately about patient safety," AMA (SA) President Andrew Lavender said.
"We shouldn't be looking at a fast-tracked process that might risk undermining the high standards and quality of training we have in Australia."
.