Proposed mandatory health checks for doctors aged over 70 must focus on supporting doctors’ wellbeing and not add to the already-burdensome regulatory environment for GPs, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has said.
The Medical Board of Australia has proposed introducing general health checks with a GP for late career doctors aged 70 and older to support early detection of concerns with the opportunity for management before the public is at risk.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said any mandatory checks must support, rather than burden, GPs.
“It’s essential that our patients know they can trust the health system, and support of safe practice by the medical regulator should support this,” she said.
“But there must be a balance. Even among doctors under 70, notifications to the medical regulator have drastically increased, growing by 63% since 2015.
“GPs have told us they’re experiencing more burnout. They’ve told us about the strain notifications can put on their mental health. Mandatory reporting and vexatious notifications add to that strain. Many GPs, who pushed up their working hours during the pandemic, are now thinking about retirement.
“The health regulator must ensure it’s supporting both the safety of our patients, and the wellbeing of our GPs. Any mandatory health checks must not create an additional burden. The proposed focus on early detection of potential health issues is welcome in that it implies an approach that supports doctors’ heath, but it is absolutely essential any process is straightforward, not time consuming, and focused on the health and wellbeing of doctors.
“Patients need safe practice, but there’s no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you. The regulator must make sure that it’s also supporting a strong GP workforce in any approach to health reporting.”
Dr Higgins emphasised that given the pressures on Australia’s health workforce, and the impact of burnout and red tape on GPs, any measure must centre GPs’ wellbeing and not add to the administrative burdens placed on GPs.
“Australia has severe and growing shortages in the health workforce – not just GPs and other specialist doctors, but pharmacists, nurses, and other allied health professionals,” she said.
“Around half of our pharmacists have said they do not intend to keep practicing by 2033. The health department projects we’ll have 123,000 fewer nurses than we need by 2030. Sourcing and retaining GPs remains the biggest challenge for general practices. On Monday, the Department of Health and Aged Care's GP workforce report showed Australia already has a shortage of up to 2460 GPs, full time equivalent.
“In last year’s RACGP Health of the Nation report, almost three in 10 GPs signalled their intention to retire in the next five years. Seven in 10 reported burnout, and GPs said burnout and the regulatory and compliance burden are the main issues leading them to consider reducing the amount of time they spend practising, or to cease practising entirely. The proportion of medical students saying they want to become a GP has fallen from around 30% in the 1990s to 10.5% in 2024, while the administrative burden on GPs has increased in that time.
“The Medical Board must support doctors to ensure there are sufficient GPs to keep people healthy in every community.”