The AMA's submission supports simplifying the process for specialist international medical graduates but only if concerns are addressed.
Specialist international medical graduates (SIMG) play an important part in building a fully resourced workforce. However, streamlining processes to increase the intake of overseas doctors to address workforce shortages should not come at the expense of Australia's high clinical standards, patient safety, and quality care.
Our submission to the Medical Board's consultation on the revised standards for specialist international medical graduates, notes that while reform is needed to streamline the entry process into Australia, there is too great an emphasis on speeding up entry processes and too little emphasis on providing the necessary supports for IMGs to work in a supported environment.
The submission details concerns that the rapid timeframe for achieving the SIMG Pathway is unrealistic and doesn't allow time to get the changes right. It also highlights the need for additional funding for this work as health ministers have so far paid for these reforms with practitioners' Ahpra registration fees.
We are also advocating for greater engagement with the medical defence organisations that will be required to provide medical indemnity insurance to these new practitioners and highlighting the need for a health workforce planning agency to address the current health workforce crisis.
