The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) rejects a recommendation made in the recently released Commission of Audit report for general practice training to be administered by the Department of Health.
A report released by the Commission of Audit last week detailed a number of controversial recommendations to the Government, including a consolidation of General Practice Education and Training (GPET) and Health Workforce Australia (HWA) to act as a clinical training unit into the Department of Health (DoH).
RACGP President, Dr Liz Marles said despite only being a recommendation at this stage, increasing the scope of the DoH to cover functions previously performed by GPET risks destabilising general practice training at the very time Australia is trying to build its primary care workforce.
“For over a decade GPET has successfully delivered a regionalised training model, through engagement with multiple stakeholders in a complex training environment.
“It has helped build capacity in general practice training from an initial 400 registrars per year in 2000 to the most recent intake in 2014 of 1,200 general practice registrars across Australia.
“GPET now also manages the very successful Prevocational General Practice Placement Program (PGPPP) which gives junior hospital based doctors the opportunity to experience general practice alongside other medical specialties at the time when they are making their career choice.
“Investment in a well-trained general practice workforce is the key to delivering a high quality, cost efficient and accessible healthcare system. Now is not the time to jeopardise this,” said Dr Marles.
The most recent Medical Workforce 2012 report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) showed a decline in the supply of GPs, despite recent increases to GP vocational training, whereas other specialty areas demonstrated overall growth.
For the first time the number of other specialists outnumbered the total figure of GPs in Australia. With 41% of Australia’s GPs working in major cities and aged over 55, retirements over the next 15 years add even more urgency to the need to build the GP workforce.
“General practice workforce shortages are an ongoing national concern and demand urgent strategic Government attention.
“General practice training, facilitated by the profession for the profession, is the best way to ensure that all Australians, now and in the future, will have continued access to high quality, sustainable and affordable healthcare services,” said Dr Liz Marles.
The RACGP is committed to achieving the best possible health outcomes for all Australians and looks forward to working with the Government in support of a robust and viable general practice profession.