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Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

DRAFT LAWS TO GET DOCTORS ON THE JOB IN HOSPITALS QUICKER

Health Minister Stephen Robertson today introduced legislation to streamline and expedite Queensland’s medical registration processes.

Mr Robertson told State Parliament the draft laws are designed to give the Medical Board of Queensland more flexibility to perform its registration functions promptly and to have simpler processes in place for doctors applying for registration.

“It’s in the best interests of patients that overseas and interstate doctors who accept jobs in Queensland public hospitals are registered and working as soon as possible.

“We are already working hard to recruit new doctors for our public hospitals in the face of a critical national shortage of doctors.

“But we need to streamline and expedite the current medical registration processes to ensure new doctors are at work and treating patients as quickly as possible.

“I want to assure Queenslanders the measures I am proposing do not in any way “water down” the quality of the stringent screening process we have in place.

“All doctors will still have their medical qualifications and work history thoroughly checked before they are allowed to practice in Queensland.”

Mr Robertson said the Medical Practitioners Registration Amendment Bill 2006 seeks to:

* Broaden the qualifications for general registration to include recognition of medical qualifications not only of those certified by the Australian Medical Council but also those recognised by certain prescribed overseas registration bodies such as the United Kingdom General Medical Council. This means that Queensland will be in a position to respond quickly to changes being proposed at the national level.

* Expand the Board’s power of delegation to allow a board member, its executive officer or a committee including at least one board member to approve registration applications.

* Require the Medical Board to report to the Minister if it fails to decide a registration application within 25 working days of receiving it.

* Expand special purpose registration for medical teaching or research to include registration for the purpose of clinical practice associated with teaching or research.

* Allow short-term registration to be granted for interstate and overseas doctors providing locum services for a period of five weeks or less and waive their application and registration fees.

Mr Robertson said, in some circumstances, it can take months for an overseas doctor to successfully go through the registration process and start treating patients.

“By streamlining the processes we can get doctors registered quicker and on the job treating patients quicker.”

The proposed rules will allow the Medical Board of Queensland to delegate power to a board member; a committee containing at least one member of the board or its chief executive, the power approve registration applications.

“At present, the Medical Board of Queensland meets just two days a month to consider registration applications.

“The proposed changes will require the Board to report to the Minister if it fails to decide on a registration within 25 working days.

“It must give reasons for the delay and outline actions the Board will take to avoid similar delays in the future.”

Mr Robertson said the plan to expand special purpose registration for medical teaching or research would provide greater scope for universities and other bodies to attract practitioners in medical training and research positions.

“We will also provide greater incentive for interstate or overseas doctors to perform short-term locum services in Queensland by waiving their registration and application fees.

“These amendments will all help expedite medical registration processes in Queensland without watering down the rigorous screening we do to make sure our doctors are competent.

“And they reflect the Beattie Government’s determination to rebuild and improve the health system for the benefit of all Queenslanders,” he said.