Medical Coun. Mustn't Confuse Standards & Hurdles

Medical Council Mustn't Confuse Standards And Hurdles

Press Release: Ron Law, Citizen for Evidence Based Medicine

In criticizing ACT's proposal to give the Qualifications Authority, not the Medical Council, the final decision on the suitability of overseas qualified doctors to practise in New Zealand, the Medical Council is confusing the terms standards and hurdles. "There is a world of difference between the two," says Ron Law.

Hurdles are a barriers that well qualified practitioners have to over come to be able to practice. Standards are levels of qualification and competency that need to be met in order to practice.

Ron Law says that the Medical Council has prevented practitioners with 10 years consultancy experience on Harley Street from practicing in New Zealand, simply because their undergraduate degree obtained 30 years ago at a Malaysian University was not 'approved' by the Medical Council.

"That is simply absurd racial prejudice, it belongs in a former era."

"If the UK can recognise the degree then there is no rational reason why the New Zealand Medical Council can't," he says.

"To say and do otherwise is simply putting in place an arbitrary hurdle otherwise known as a restriction to practice a legitimate trade," said Ron Law who welcomes Parliament's move to submit the bill to the Health Select Committee.

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