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Call for nominations - Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Councils (CPMEC) awards
HPDT outcome
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou - warmest greetings to you all.
On behalf of Council, I extend our congratulations and appreciation to the doctors listed in June 2024 for their outstanding service to Aotearoa | New Zealand through their exemplary leadership, devotion to the field of medicine and care to their communities. [Read more]
Medical workforce
International medical graduates (IMGs) make an important and valued contribution to our workforce. In my field of otolaryngology, IMG colleagues hold vital positions in leadership, training and education and governance.
The Council is recognised internationally for our flexible and enabling approach to registering IMGs. Our registration processes offer a range of options not commonly implemented in other countries. However, we are in the midst of a global healthcare shortage, and several countries including Canada, the USA and Australia are moving away from a strong reliance on examinations to gain registration. They are developing pathways to registration for IMGs that replicate the approach we take. This will put pressure on Aotearoa | New Zealand's ability to attract and retain IMGs.
We are commencing consultation on an expedited pathway for IMGs, designed to enable Council to fast-track the registration process for those with specialist qualifications that we recognise as equivalent to those in Aotearoa | New Zealand. The areas of medicine that this will apply to, and the qualifications to be recognised, will be identified based on Council’s experience and discussions with the relevant colleges. The benefits will be two-fold.
First, it will improve timeframes for processing these applications. Second, it will remove some of the workload of colleges, to allow them to focus on the applications that we most need their advice on.
Key statistics:
As of 31 March 2024, our medical register includes 20,231 doctors with current practising certificates.
IMGs constitute 43.3% of this workforce (8,557 doctors), the highest proportion among comparable developed countries.
We registered 16% more IMGs (1,318 IMGs) in the year ending 30 June 2024 (as of 26 June 2024), than the year before. 71% of the new registrations were IMGs.
99% of all IMG applications for provisional general, general, and special purpose scope registration are processed within 20 working days.
90% of IMG applications for provisional vocational registration are processed within 6 months, although most IMGs are able to begin work within 20 working days under provisional scopes while their vocational applications are processed.
Although we are successful in attracting IMGs, retention rates show only about 60% of IMGs remain after one year, dropping to 40% after two years, and 25% after ten years. This contrasts with New Zealand graduates, with 94% retained after two years of gaining registration and 71% after 10 years.
We are working with employers to explore and improve the integration and retention of IMGs through better induction, orientation and understanding of the local context.
Public safety is our priority, and we are committed to developing and maintaining fit-for-purpose registration pathways so that our communities have access to well trained, competent and safe doctors.
Nō reira, kia haere haumaru tonu koutou i ō koutou mahi, i ō koutou kāinga. Kia manawanui.
Dr Rachelle Love
Tumuaki | Chair
