Doctors' flight blamed on debts

Doctors and medical students want the Government to do something about student debt, which they say is driving medical graduates out of the country.

Surveys of medical students at the Christchurch School of Medicine and the Auckland Medical School indicate student debt is a major contributor to graduates leaving the country to work.

The surveys, reported in the New Zealand Medical Journal, show final year medical students in both cities had average debts of $70,000.

Nine per cent of Auckland respondents expected to have debts of more than $100,000.

Most of those surveyed had taken loans through the Government student loan scheme, and more than half had bank overdrafts.

About 82 per cent of those surveyed planned to leave the country to work within two years of graduating.

But of more concern, says the report, is that less than half planned to work in New Zealand for the bulk of their medical careers.

The report's editors said that of the graduates who chose to go overseas "there is a good chance that the 'best' or most promising will be snapped up and not return".

"Is New Zealand doomed to rediscover the folly of maltreating its brightest?" they asked.

Those who returned to the country were more likely to take up specialist fields of medicine, which paid better.

General practice was the first choice of 15 per cent of students.

Medical Association chairman John Adams said the three main factors for graduates leaving the country were more money overseas, better working conditions and the debt they had incurred while studying.

"The surveys confirm that we are facing a potential long-term shortage of New Zealand-trained doctors," said Dr Adams.

The association supported the setting up of a Government workforce advisory committee, he said, but more needed to be done.

"It makes no sense economically not to help these students, because thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money has already gone into their education.

"We need practical ways of reducing the burden and encouraging doctors to stay here and work."

Dr Adams warned that as a result of huge debts, doctors would charge patients more.

Similar concerns were held by the Medical Students Association, which said medical student debt levels were "staggering".

It suggested the Government offer tax incentives and student loan discounts to those who remained in New Zealand to work.

- NZPA