Government streamlines registration process for international specialists.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has welcomed the move to fast-track overseas doctors wanting to practice in New Zealand. The fast-tracked pathway, announced by the Medical Council last week, applies to specialists trained in anaesthesia, dermatology, emergency medicine, general practice, internal medicine, pathology and psychiatry.
From 1 November, medical graduates from the UK, Ireland, and Australia can have their applications for registration assessed within 20 working days. This streamlined process is expected to fill critical gaps in New Zealand's health workforce sooner. The government aims to improve Kiwis' access to good, fast healthcare while progressing longer-term initiatives such as increasing places in Auckland and Otago Medical Schools.
The establishment of this pathway may lead to an increase in doctors with UK and Irish postgraduate qualifications applying for registration. Dr Reti acknowledges the vital role internationally qualified doctors play in providing quality care, alongside efforts to train more domestically.