Increase in Medical Student Places Welcomed

Increase in Medical Student Places Welcomed
Government takes action on health workforce crisis

The Government’s announcement today to increase the number of medical students from 2008 is a significant step in the right direction, according to the New Zealand Medical Students’ Association (NZMSA).

It is well recognised that increasing the number of New Zealand trained doctors is a relevant component of easing the current workforce crisis. But any increase in student numbers must be part of a wider, aggressive plan to solve the unsustainable situation of New Zealand’s health workforce, which relies on a 40% mix of overseas trained doctors.

“Simply throwing students at the medical school gates and seeing if they stick is not sufficient,” says Mr Nick Fancourt, President of the NZMSA. A previous report from the Health Workforce Advisory Committee noted that to solve the workforce crisis New Zealand would need to produce between 230 and 296 extra doctors each year.

“Guarantees are needed that any extra students will be well supported and funded, both before and beyond graduation. We must ensure that their training is appropriate to New Zealand’s needs and that junior doctor positions are developed in accordance with the increase in undergraduate places,” says Mr Fancourt.

In addition, active steps such as incentive-based employment packages, smooth transition pathways into clinical practice and measures to attract emigrated New Zealand graduates back home are a necessity. “Groups such as the new Medical Training Board must have the power to be able to implement such measures quickly, before the current crisis worsens the situation for our patients further,” says Mr Fancourt.

ENDS

© Scoop Media