Rules tightened for overseas-trained doctors

File photo / The Aucklander

Health authorities have tightened rules around the monitoring of overseas-trained doctors, following concerns being expressed for several years over supervision.

The Medical Council and the 20 district health boards said today they had signed a memorandum of understanding that covers the employment of doctors.

The agreement outlines several new joint schemes of the council and DHBs, including development processes for international medical graduates. They are intended to improve their orientation and induction into the New Zealand health system.

Around 40 per cent of doctors practising New Zealand received their first medical degree overseas.

Under the agreement the DHBs said they would "resource and provide programmes for the orientation and induction of doctors that satisfy the requirements of the Medical Council of New Zealand".

New doctors, including international medical graduates, have to be supervised for a period.

The DHBs have agreed that they will submit an individual supervision plan for each doctor registered in a provisional scope of practice, or meet the standards for accreditation by the council as an "approved practice setting".