COAG's National Registration Plans Won't Stop 'Rogue' Doctors, Australia

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 16:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The AMA and the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) support a National Register of doctors - a national database system that enables information transfer of doctors' registration information and which enables workforce mobility.

We believe there must be changes to improve the current system.

However, we do not believe the proposal that will go to tomorrow's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) provides increased protection for patients from 'rogue' doctors or guarantees the highest possible quality and safety of medical care for the community.

The COAG model is heavily bureaucratised and remote. It is too centralised and removed from where medicine is practised. Our alternative proposal achieves a national registration database and uniform high standards for registration and regulation of doctors across all States and Territories. It allows for more rapid responses to concerns and the exchange of information at the local level to identify local problems and avert potential disasters. Patient protection requires local accountability and responsiveness.

The drivers for doctor registration must be quality and safety to protect patients, and must not be subjected to political agendas and workforce reforms.

The AMA, CPMC and others have raised concerns about the COAG model for at least eighteen months, including during the 2007 Federal election campaign. There has been no formal Federal Government consultation with the medical profession since the election.

We believe that, in the interests of providing the highest quality medical care to Australian patients, the Federal Government and COAG should consult with the medical profession before making the mistake of introducing a national registration system that may be inferior to the one we have now.

The independence from government of the standard setting and accreditation of the medical profession in Australia is recognised throughout the western world as a vital component to ensure quality medical care.

The AMA and the CPMC reject any proposed model for national registration or national accreditation of training that undermines this independence; otherwise the credibility of medical practice, community confidence, and the standards of our doctors are eroded.

It is crucial that the community understands what is at stake. The choice confronting us is quite stark. The registration of doctors, the training of medical professionals, and the accreditation of training courses must remain independent of government and free from political manipulation.

Australian Medical Association