USANZ in the Media
Fast-Tracking Overseas Medical Graduates
On 29 November 2024, USANZ produced a media release in response to planned changes to fast-track overseas trained medical specialists, allowing them to treat patients unsupervised six months after arriving in Australia with no evaluation of comparability. The media release acknowledges the need to address shortages in regional areas, but notes the proposed plan does not address that problem.
That media release was informed by expert commentary from USANZ President, Prof Helen O'Connell AO.
On 30 November, Helen was interviewed by Sky News, expressing concerns about the current uncertainity regarding the specifics of the reforms. Watch Helen's segment.
On 3 December, Vice-President Damien Bolton spoke to Canberra 2CC.
On 4 December, the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) and Royal College of Surgeons (RACS) both issued statements about this fast-track program. CPMC emphasised issues with reduced supervision and assessment processes as well as the absence of clear mechanisms for SIMGs to work in areas of need. RACS noted the need for support structures for SIMGs in regional and rural areas, and expressed concerns about the potential development of a two-tier system, with SIMGs having access to an expedited pathway not open to domestically trained specialists. These statements were issued ahead of the Health Ministers' Meeting on 6 December, with the CPMC calling on the Ministers to address mounting concerns around the program.
USANZ will provide updates in future editions of UroNews as this coverage continues.
Robotic Surgery Statement
On 3 December, an article in The Age discussed the recent Victorian Government decision to overturn restructions on robotic surgery at public hospitals, though without providing centralised funding. Read the Age article.
The article, in part, cited claims that robotic surgery for prostate cancer has reduced rates of incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
In response, on 4 December 2024, USANZ released a statement to reassure patients undergoing open surgeries about claims they fared worse than those undergoing robotic surgery. USANZ President, Prof Helen O'Connell AO, explained that prostate cancer patients undergoing open surgery still had excellent outcomes.
In addition, USANZ Members Henry Woo and Declan Murphy were cited in The Age article. They spoke about the need to close gaps between public and private hospitals when it comes to the provision of robotic surgery, noting the limitations of the current proposal as it does not include funding.