"Watering down" accreditation standards not the answer to workforce shortages.
The AMA has warned against "watering down" Australia's world-leading accreditation standards to help ease workforce shortages in a submission to the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme Complexity Review (the Dawson Review).
We are concerned the review proposed tackling workforce shortages through the National Scheme when it should be focused on ensuring patients are cared for by practitioners who are trained to the highest possible standards.
The AMA maintains workforce shortages must be managed and addressed outside the National Scheme.
We have long advocated for the establishment of a national Independent Health Workforce Planning and Analysis Agency to progress the targeted and sustainable development of the health workforce. This separate agency would be key in advising the health ministers on how the National Scheme can support a growing workforce.
We are also concerned about the approach the review's failure to properly recognise the role of accreditation in protecting patient safety.
Established in 2010, the National Scheme is intended to ensure all regulated health professionals are registered against consistent, high-quality, national professional standards that safeguard patient care.
The submission calls for reforms to the National Scheme to support medical practitioners, such as making practitioner distress experienced as a result of the Ahpra notification process a priority.
We also call for clearer reporting on how Ahpra and registrant fees are used, with a commitment from health ministers to not use registration fees to fund health system reform.
We met recently with lead reviewer Sue Dawson last month to discuss our concerns and ensure the voices of medical professionals are represented in the review. The meeting was positive, and we look forward to engaging further with the team as the review continues.
