Narooma doctor, Dr Gurdeep Bagari says a shortage of General practitioner, especially in rural and regional Australia is concerning issue.
The Deloitte Access report, forecasts a 37.5% increase in the demand for general practice services by 2030 that it says will contribute to a shortfall of 9298 full-time GPs, or 24.7% of the GP workforce.
The Australian Medical Counci (AMC) ensures internationally trained medical graduates (IMGs) are assessed for their competency to be at par with those of Australian Medical graduate who have passed an Australian university or Medical School.
The IMG who successfully complete the AMC certificate become eligible for provisional registration and considered at par with Australian Medical Graduates.
"But unfortunately these candidates have to undergo PESCI," says Dr Bagari .
"PESCI accesses the suitability of candidate for a particular position, but at the same time the AMC has certified that these candidates are at par with Australian Graduates, So they should not be subjected to this double standards. Exemption of PESCI for candidates with AMC certificate will improve the shortage of General practitioners in Rural Australia there by improving the Health services and allowing more bulk billing services."
Dr Gurdeep Bagari has initiated a Parliamentary Petition EN2616 - For more General Practitioner in Rural Australia, Exempt PESCI asking:
"We therefore ask the House to advise AHPRA to exempt the need for PESCI for International Medical Graduates who have passed the AMC clinical examination, which will allow the employers in rural Australia employ such candidates, thereby improving the much needed health services in rural Australia." Closing date for signatures:09 June 2021 11:59 PM You can sign the petition HERE
Above: Dr Gurdeep Bagari and his staff at Narooma during Bushfires
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
