Major flaws in the Australian Government’s plan to force doctors to work in certain areas

May 12 2004

Many of the students at the proposed University of Western Sydney Medical School would be bonded, but AMA (NSW) President Dr Choong-Siew Yong said forcing doctors to work in certain areas was wrong.

“Attempts overseas to bond doctors to specific areas have been dismal failures and only produced a profoundly unhappy workforce,” he said.

While AMA (NSW) welcomed additional funding for medical schools, the $18 million the Federal Government announced for the University of Western Sydney would not be sufficient to set up a medical school. The State Government has refused to contribute any extra funding.

“There are already several large clinical schools in greater Western Sydney, as part of the Universities of Sydney and NSW,” he said.

“Setting up a new medical school risks duplication of existing facilities and may lead to competition for more resources, such as clinical teachers in the region.

“We want to see more incentives for doctors to work in Western Sydney, including better equipment and facilities for local hospitals. More facilities for research and teaching will also help retain doctors,” he said.

Like many recent graduates from Sydney and NSW Universities, Dr Yong was a medical student in Western Sydney (Westmead Hospital) and is now working as a specialist in the region.

http://www.nswama.com.au