News & updates
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In this issue of MC News, we discuss the health of doctors, regulation in the era of Artificial Intelligence and medical clinic advertising and use of Google Reviews. Other key items include: A recent Coroner report on prescribing practices, a workforce data update and a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal outcome.
Council is proud to have been one of the seven responsible authorities (RAs) that worked together to develop the Principles for Quality and Safe Prescribing Practice. Development of the Principles was a result of collaboration and partnership among RAs.
In this issue we discuss the Medical Councils response to the Report of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, we welcome two new members to Council, and provide feedback on Council's recent annual meeting with medical colleges and key stakeholders.
Medical Council Chair Dr Rachelle Love responds to the final report from the Abuse in State Care Royal Commission Inquiry.
The Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora is currently seeking nominations for health practitioner candidates to be considered for the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal - Taraipuinara Whakatika Kaimahi Hauora (the Tribunal).
The Medical Council of New Zealand has two new members. The Hon Matt Doocey, Associate Minister of Health, made the appointments, which are effective from 1 July 2024 for a three-year term. The Minister also reappointed two current members for further terms. These four appointments follow the election by the profession, earlier this year.
Council is considering prescribing a new qualification (registration pathway) for specialist IMGs. This new qualification will provide for an expedited pathway for specialist registration in the Provisional Vocational scope of practice.
This consultation is now closed. Thank you to those who provided submissions. We are currently reviewing the submissions we received. We will publish the updated statement once we finish this review.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand (Council) recently held an election to select four medical practitioner nominees and can now announce the results of this election.
The International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the World Health Organization in a ceremony in Geneva.
Te Kōwhiringa o Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa 2024 | The Medical Council of New Zealand election 2024
Council elections are about building a strong Council that the public, government and medical profession can have confidence in. The opportunity to cast your vote for the election of four medical members to join the governance of the Medical Council is available starting Tuesday, 20 February 2024.
At its first meeting for 2024, Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand elected Dr Rachelle Love as its new Chair and re-elected Mr Simon Watt as Deputy Chair.
Nominations have now opened for the next election of medical members onto the Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa |Medical Council of New Zealand (Council).
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand is pleased to release the findings from the New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2023 Survey. This report presents a detailed picture of the current state of the medical profession, highlighting shifts in demographics, practice locations, and emerging trends that are reshaping the medical workforce.
We're pleased to announce the launch of our new data dashboard, now available on our website. This dashboard provides a comprehensive and dynamic overview of registered and practising doctors in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This consultation is now closed. Thank you to those who provided submissions. We are currently reviewing the submissions we received. We will publish the updated statement once we finish this review.
We've added videos to help guide patients and other health consumers explaining how to make a notification, and the process that we follow when a notification is made
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health is the agency responsible for the proposal and consultation on the regulation of physician associates under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. The Medical Council made a submission during the Ministry’s consultation on the proposal in December 2023 (as did a number of other organisations) and is awaiting the Ministry’s release of the outcome. The Medical Council cannot advise on when this information will be released by the Ministry.
Led by the Pharmacy Council and the Medical Council, seven responsible authorities (regulators of health professions) have developed a joint statement for safe and quality prescribing. The aim is to create a set of high-level principles that apply to all authorised prescribers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This consultation is now closed. Thank you to those who provided submissions. We are currently reviewing the submissions we received. We will publish the updated statement once we finish this review.
We are now accepting applications via the new United Kingdom General Registrants pathway and the amended Examinations pathway.
This consultation is now closed. Thank you to those who provided submissions. We are currently reviewing the submissions we received. We will publish the updated statement once we finish this review.
We are pleased to share with you Te Mahere Rautaki, Council's strategic plan, for 2022-2027. This plan outlines our key strategic priorities, outcomes, and the steps we will take to achieve them.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand (Council) approved the final version of the Doctors and health-related commercial organisations statement at its meeting in February 2023.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand (the Council) invites proposals from suitable providers to deliver the full examination management and oversight of the NZREX Clinical.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand today released the results of its New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2022 survey.
Council’s Chair, Dr Curtis Walker, says “key findings show that while Māori and Pasifika doctors are increasing, there is still much more work to do to achieve a more proportional workforce. Māori and Pasifika remain noticeably under-represented compared to their proportion of the population.”
Council’s Chair, Dr Curtis Walker, says “key findings show that while Māori and Pasifika doctors are increasing, there is still much more work to do to achieve a more proportional workforce. Māori and Pasifika remain noticeably under-represented compared to their proportion of the population.”
The Minister of Health has announced two new initiatives targeted at overseas doctors who have passed their New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX) examination in the last five years, allowing them to apply for roles in New Zealand that will lead to full registration as a doctor.
Consultation: Consideration of eligibility requirements for the New Zealand Registration Examination
The consultation is now closed and we are analysing the responses. We will update this page once we have made a decision on whether to introduce this requirement.
This consultation is closed. Thank you for considering the Medical Council of New Zealand’s recent consultation on the proposed Council fees and disciplinary levy, and thanks to the individuals and organisations who made submissions.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aoteroa |The Medical Council of New Zealand today released the results of its New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2021 Survey.
Council’s Chair, Dr Curtis Walker says “key findings show that while Māori and Pasifika doctors remain under-represented in the medical workforce, the positive trends in undergraduate and graduate levels continue, with more Māori and Pasifika doctors in the workforce.”
Council’s Chair, Dr Curtis Walker says “key findings show that while Māori and Pasifika doctors remain under-represented in the medical workforce, the positive trends in undergraduate and graduate levels continue, with more Māori and Pasifika doctors in the workforce.”
We've extended our COVID-19 Pandemic scope of practice through to 31 March 2023. Doctors already registered in this scope of practice under an earlier notice can also be extended to 31 March 2023, subject to completion of the renewal process.
In August 2021, Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa |Medical Council of New Zealand, underwent a full performance review that showed compliance to our obligations under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA).
Council have extended the scope of practice for all interns, to allow them to work in “COVID-19 related health services outside of accredited clinical attachments” until 15 January 2023. This includes placements in services that require cover, that are not directly related to the pandemic.
The Chair of Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | The Medical Council of New Zealand, Dr Curtis Walker, reinforced today that public health and safety remains the top priority for Council. His statement follows the recent interim suspension of the practising certificates of three doctors, Dr Peter Canaday, Dr Emanuel Garcia, and Dr Matthew Shelton, pending investigations for conduct relating to Covid-19 (section 69 HPCAA 2003).
He karanga manaaki ki ngā rata o te motu, With the COVID-19 lockdown in effect across the country in response to community transmission, Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa would like to take the opportunity to thank the medical profession for once again being at the frontline of Aotearoa's national response.
The Medical Council has received a number of notifications this morning about a GP who sent a text message to patients that said he does not support COVID vaccinations. Council takes this matter very seriously. We are taking immediate steps which include communicating with the doctor today. Our primary focus is public safety.
Dentists and doctors are expected to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as outlined in the guidance, jointly released by the Dental Council and the Medical Council of New Zealand today.
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa, the Medical Council of New Zealand (Council), today released the names of the four elected candidates to join Council governance.
We've updated our advice for doctors when using technology to deliver health care services to ensure safe and effective care for patients.
We're further extending the expiry date of our COVID-19 Pandemic scope of practice out to 31 March 2022 at the request of the Director-General of Health.