Policy - comparable health system

Policy extract on registration within a general scope of practice

~ Comparable health system

Policy Statement

The Medical Council of New Zealand has set requirements for doctors to meet before they may be registered to work in New Zealand within a general scope of practice.

Initially registration within a provisional general scope of practice will be granted to doctors who have the prescribed qualifications, and who are considered fit for registration and competent to practise. The doctor will work on a provisional general scope for up to two years, subject to conditions to satisfy the Council that all requirements for registration in a general scope are met.

The exception to this is for graduates from New Zealand or Australian university medical schools who have completed their internships in New Zealand or Australia, who will be granted registration in a general, and a vocational scope if appropriate.

If a doctor fails to satisfy the conditions on his or her practice as required by Council to ensure competent practise within a general scope of practice within two years, the Registrar will refer the doctor’s application for an APC to the Council under section 27(1)(b) of the Act.

This extract must be read with reference to Council’s Policy on registration in New Zealand.

Comparable Health System

The Council has determined that doctors who have a primary medical degree from a comparable health system are eligible for registration subject to satisfying Council's English policy requirements and section 13 of the HPCAA.

Council assesses a comparable health system by comparing the Council's systems with those of other jurisdictions. All criteria must be satisfied to be recognised as a comparable health system.

Qualifications

To qualify for registration within a general scope of practice a doctor must pass (or be exempt from) the IELTS English test in accordance with Council’s English testing policy, and satisfy one of the following:

Eligibility for registration

A doctor who:

holds a primary medical degree from a university medical school listed in the WHO Directory of Medical Schools or the ECFMG Faimer Directory, and
worked for 36 months continuously (for at least 30 hours per week) during the 48 months prior to application, in a comparable health system, and
holds full or general registration in the comparable health system in which they met Council's active clinical practice requirement at the time of application, and
has passed (or been exempted from) the IELTS English test in accordance with Council's English testing policy

will be eligible for registration in a provisional general scope of practice subject to section 13 of the HPCAA 2003.

Progress to general scope

For the purpose of assessing and confirming his or her competence to practise within a general scope of practice, a doctor will be registered within a provisional general scope of practice for up to two years, with the following conditions, to work:

in a New Zealand hospital or general practice approved by the Council, and
under supervision of a registered doctor approved by the Council, and
for at least two years full time or equivalent, and
in a position for which the doctor has appropriate experience.

Council may authorise a change of scope from a provisional general scope to a general scope once the doctor has satisfied the conditions in the provisional general scope and has:

successfully completed requirements during practice within a provisional general scope of practice, and
received satisfactory reports for the three runs completed (or nine months worked) immediately prior to applying for registration within a general scope, and
been recommended for registration within a general scope of practice by his or her supervisor.

Note

Failure to meet conditions on practice while registered within a provisional general scope of practice

If a doctor fails to satisfy the conditions on his or her practice as required by Council to ensure competent practice within a general scope of practice within two years, the Registrar will refer the doctor’s application for an APC to the Council under section 27(1)(b) of the Act.

The Council may:

extend registration within a provisional general scope for a further period, or
propose to either place restrictions on, or decline to issue the doctor’s APC under section 28, and give the doctor an opportunity to make written submissions and be heard by Council, and
then make a decision whether to issue the APC.

Recertification requirements

Once registered to practise within a general scope of practice the doctor is no longer required to work under supervision, but instead must establish a collegial relationship and meet requirements for continuing professional development and recertification in order for an annual practising certificate to be issued.

Policy on registration in New Zealand