International Data Highlights Specialist Shortage
International Data Highlights Appalling Hospital Specialist Shortages
“International data highlights the appalling shortages of hospital specialists in New Zealand,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Powell was commenting on Organisation of Economic Development (OECD) statistics which reveal that of the 28 countries surveyed in 2007, New Zealand has the lowest ratio of specialists to population.
“New Zealand has had a low ratio of specialists for some time but we have now reached rock bottom. While the OECD average is 1.8 specialists per 1,000 people, New Zealand is a pathetic 0.8%. Our strongest competitor for specialists is Australia which is at a much better 1.4. Even a poor country like Turkey is doing better.”
“These damming international statistics confirm what we already know from our own practical experience. We already know that our public health system is suffering from serious senior doctor shortages. The accessibility, range and quality of patient services are being held together by an overworked and over-stretched hospital specialist workforce.”
“Given this shocking state of affairs it is extraordinary that New Zealand’s public health system is performing so well (as recognised by the international Commonwealth Fund data). This is a tremendous complement to the high performance and productivity of senior doctors, nurses and other health professionals. But so much of this depends on the exploitation of our senior doctors. This is unsustainable. Without remedy the system will eventually collapse.”
“New Zealand needs a coherent strategy to recruit and retain enough senior doctors to overcome the public health system’s unsustainable dependence on exploitation of senior doctors. Being able to compete against Australia through competitive specialist salaries is a critical part of this” concluded Mr Powell.
ENDS