KEY POINTS:
Sustainable solutions are needed to overcome the shortage of doctors in the country, the New Zealand Medical Association says.
NZMA chairman Peter Foley said today New Zealand needed to become self-sufficient and not rely on the uncertainty of recruiting doctors from overseas to fill shortages.
"However, the NZMA is heartened by the way in which this Government, and the previous one have at last taken action to avert a workforce crisis."
The New Zealand medical workforce was facing critical shortages in many areas, and relied heavily on doctors recruited from overseas, Dr Foley said.
Other factors include an increasing demand for health services, the ageing doctor workforce, doctor dissatisfaction and low morale, insufficient medical student places, student debt, GP practices closing their books to new patients, doctors leaving New Zealand, and an over-reliance on locums.
"The NZMA has long advocated that New Zealand needs to become self-sufficient in doctors, and sustainable solutions are needed. It is vital that strong leadership is shown in this area," Dr Foley said.
Dr Foley praised the establishment of the Medical Training Board and the two commissions tasked with finding solutions to the workforce problems.
The Government recently announced it would train 200 more medical students, but the NZMA believed even more would be needed.
"Doctors make a huge contribution to the health of the New Zealand people, and we need to ensure that sufficient doctors are trained, recruited and retained in New Zealand.
"There is a global market for health professionals, with many countries able to pay significantly higher salaries than us. Ultimately, the New Zealand medical workforce needs to become self-sufficient."
- NZPA
