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Doctors cry foul over government’s registration plans
Doctors warn the state government is about to undermine their professional standards and consequently the safety of health care in Victoria.
The State Government is drafting legislation which will dramatically change the way health profession standards in Victoria are established and maintained.
AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates said it was obvious the Minister had been very poorly advised in relation to the role of the board and consumer law and dispute resolution.
“The Medical Registration Board’s role is to maintain professional standards and in doing so protect the public.
“We only have to look to Queensland to appreciate the importance of ensuring the government gets this legislation right.”
Dr Yates said doctors and the public could have no confidence in a system which did not have the expertise and focus necessary to ensure the highest professional standards of medical care for the Victorian community.
“Reducing the number of doctors by a third while doubling the lay representation will undermine the Board’s ability to set professional standards and guide doctors,” he said.
“If the AFL changed the tribunal’s structure so drastically, there would be uproar from the players, supporters and umpires,” Dr Yates said.
“Consumers have an important role to play, but clearly Mr and Mrs Public awaiting an operation would want the setting of medical standards in the hands of medical experts, not their well educated and well meaning next door neighbour.”
“The Minister appears intent on turning the Medical Board in to a dispute resolution body – a role very clearly the responsibility of the Health Services Commissioner.”
“This will clog the Medical Board causing long delays for doctors and consumers and distract the Board from the priorities of medical standards and patient safety.”
Dr Yates said the profession had engaged with the Minister constructively to assist the government to introduce major changes across the health system but the handling of these changes was threatening that relationship.
Background:
The government is expected to introduce legislation in to Parliament early next month which will radically change the structure, roles and operations of the registration boards for doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and other health providers.
AMA Victoria has put a model to DHS and the Minister which would provide patients with a single point to take their concerns – the Health Services Commissioner.
The existing 12 registration boards would maintain their role of investigating complaints and determining whether a doctor should be struck off or otherwise limited in their practice and to guide the doctors in relation to professional standards.
The AMA and other health professions are concerned the Minister is proposing to change the composition of the boards, significantly reducing the numbers of doctors, nurses, dentists and physiotherapists on their boards and increasing the number of consumer representatives.
The government is also believed to be requiring the registration boards to take on the new role of resolving consumer disputes.
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