Summary
31 October 2018
The RACGP has lodged a submission to the COAG Health Council (CHC) in response to the consultation paper, Regulation of Australia's health professions: keeping the National Law up to date and fit for purpose.
The RACGP acknowledges the important role of a nationally consistent registration and accreditation scheme. The RACGP supports the drive for improvements in this scheme and appreciates the ongoing consultation throughout the reform process. However, it is important to acknowledge that significant improvements in the Registration and Accreditation Scheme are needed.
The RACGP continues to call for:
- more support for the health and wellbeing of the practitioner, including the adoption of the Western Australian model exempting mandatory reporting by treating practitioners
- improved timeliness, communication and transparency in relation to the handling of all notifications
- appropriate acknowledgement of health system influences on practitioner performance.
The RACGP sees opportunity for these issues to be fully addressed as part of the review of the Health Practitioner National Law, and has requested further information from the CHC, with further consultation, so that the proposals can be more fully analysed.