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AMA Victoria slams bonded medical places initiative
AMA Victoria has attacked the Federal Government, branding its plans to increase the number of medical student places by bonding doctors to areas of workforce shortage as a backward step akin to conscription.
The initiative, part of the Federal Government’s A Fairer Medicare package, would mean new medical school places created can be “bonded” to areas of workforce shortage.
Students, accepting these placements, would still pay full HECS, but will be obligated to work for a minimum of 6 years in an area of workforce shortage following their specialist training.
AMA Victoria President Dr Sam Lees said that it is morally indefensible to bind teenagers into a course of action that will dictate their lives until their mid to late thirties.
“The burden involved in a decision to accept a bonded medical place is of grave concern to AMA Victoria” said Dr Lees.
“At the end of the day what the Government is asking, is that teenagers, Australia’s future medical workforce make a commitment to a life sixteen years down the track.”
“Nobody is denying that school leavers should think carefully about their future but surely growing up is hard enough without the Government asking you to be a clairvoyant.”
Dr Lees noted that should a student become disgruntled and choose not to fulfil the requirements of the bond then they would have to repay to the Commonwealth the full cost of their education, a figure greatly exceeding the HECS liability.
“Knowing there will be severe consequences to break the contract will a graduate who excels in a particular speciality deny themselves this career path because it doesn’t meet the bond requirements?”
“Will we miss out on excellent neurosurgeons, cardiac surgeons or research scientists because of the bond?”
“If a doctor follows a career path because they have to, as distinct from because they want to we run the risk of an unhappy, unmotivated and disgruntled workforce.”
“By employing a bonded medical student scheme, the Federal Government could be denying the Australian public its best possible medical workforce in the future” said Dr Lees.
“We call on the Government to work with the AMA to develop positive support initiatives that will encourage young doctors to rural areas without introducing a bonding scheme.”
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