Photo: Supplied / Medical Council
Consultation on updating health workforce regulations has just closed, but it has sparked worries in the profession, including over greater political influence at the expense of clinical independence.
The government has talked about modernising the system, streamlining overseas recruitment while maintaining clinical standards, reducing red tape and more focus on putting patients first.
The Health Minister Simeon Brown has said the way the health workforce is regulated is overly bureaucratic affecting patient access and the cost of healthcare.
But the Medical Council, which sets standards of clinical and cultural competence, says the real problem is the retention of doctors and has expressed concern that collapsing the number of health profession regulators could see increasing political control.
Kathryn is joined by the Chair of the Medical Council, Dr Rachelle Love, who is a Christchurch head and neck surgeon.
