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A growing shortage of ophthalmologists is being compounded by tempting overseas offers and a lack of funding for training positions in New Zealand's public hospitals.
Ophthalmologists specialise in the treatment of the eyes.
The New Zealand Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists said there were now 16 vacancies at public hospitals.
The college said a combination of specialists being lured overseas by more attractive salary packages and difficulties in funding junior doctors through on the job training was compounding the problem.
The chairman of the college's New Zealand qualifications and educations committee, Brian Sloan, said there were about 126 ophthalmologists in New Zealand.
He said it only took a small number of specialists to move overseas to have a significant effect on the profession in this country.
While solutions were being sought, it was clear the number of training posts needed to be boosted.
But Dr Sloan said nationwide funding problems with district health boards and a lack of space in public hospitals made it prohibitive.
"This is where any shortcuts in infrastructure investment come home to bite - particularly when the lead time to churn out an ophthalmologist is six, seven, eight years. It's going to take a while to put right."
Attractive offers from countries such as Australia often included perks such as cars and allowances for accommodation.
New Zealand was not competing when it came to remuneration.
He said figures showed New Zealand had approximately one ophthalmologist to about 38,000 people, compared with about one to 25,000 in Australia.
A detailed report is being carried out on the training systems in Australia and New Zealand.
- NZPA
