Overseas doctors

Overseas doctors

What is the 10-year moratorium?

Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 restricts access to Medicare benefits and requires these doctors to work in a distribution priority area (for general practitioners) or a district of workforce shortage (for specialists) for at least 10 years in order to access Medicare rebates. The Act restricts access to Medicare benefits for a minimum period of 10 years unless you work in a rural or remote location (distribution priority area).

Who does the 10-year moratorium apply to?

The 10-year moratorium applies to doctors who either obtained their primary medical qualification overseas (International Medical Graduates) or obtained their primary medical qualification in Australia or New Zealand and weren't a permanent resident or Australian or New Zealand citizen at the time they enrolled in their degree (foreign graduates of an accredited medical school/FGAMS).

If you're an AGPT registrar who falls into this category, it means you must train with the rural stream in non-metropolitan areas
(MM 2–7 ). Any circumstances that existed or were foreseeable at the time of applying to the program aren’t sufficient to support a pathway transfer once you’ve commenced on the AGPT program. 

For information about transfers, refer to the section on Training transfers.