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Specialist training investing in the future of health care
28 April 2009.
AMA Victoria welcomed today’s announcement of additional medical training positions in Victoria’s hospitals, in advance of next week’s Budget.
“Investing now in specialist training will pay future health dividends,” said AMA Victoria President Dr Doug Travis.
Victoria is projected to increase the number of graduating doctors from the current 348 to almost 700 by 2012, but graduating doctors need further training before they can provide unsupervised care to the community. Typically, a doctor will do two to four years as an intern and hospital medical officer (HMO) before entering a specialist training program. Specialist training generally takes four to eight years.
“With a massive rise in the number of medical graduates, we will need to invest in additional specialist training posts,” Dr Travis said. “The cost of medical study at university is great, for students and taxpayers. Failing to provide enough posts for doctors to finish their training would mean the undergraduate investment went to waste.”
Dr Travis estimated that the additional training positions announced today would be about a quarter of what was required over the next four years, but was glad action was being taken. “If we don’t start now, we will not be able to ramp up enough training capacity to ensure that all graduates have access to specialist training,” he said.
“Furthermore, other state governments have not yet funded substantial additional training positions, and some states have not even guaranteed enough intern positions for graduates. Today’s announcement is a signal that the Victorian Government values training, and should help Victorian hospitals to become employers of choice for medical graduates.”
Dr Travis also commended the focus of the package on specialties in shortage, and investing in training in rural areas.
“The Victorian Government has taken the lead in the last two Budgets to ensure that doctors graduating from Victorian Universities will be able gain the further training they need to work as doctors. There is much more to be done, but I commend the Victorian Government for starting down this hard road,” Dr Travis said.
“In tough times, it’s easy to put off the investments that are needed for the future of Victoria’s health. I’m glad that the Victorian Government has not shirked this important issue.”
AMA Victoria’s Budget Submission focused on the need for innovation and reform in the health system. In addition to training, the submission also called for investment in hospital capacity, investment in information technology, a rural rescue package, investment in sexual health for young people, and continued investment in mental health care.
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