Foreign-trained doctors will now have a greater chance at joining the New Zealand workforce, with a rise in the number of exam spots for those looking to get accredited.
Earlier this month, the Medical Council announced it would triple the number of spots from 60 to 180 spots for those who are required to sit the NZREX next year.
“This will allow those who have not had an opportunity to sit the exam, to do so,” said council chairperson Dr Rachelle Love.
The NZREX is an exam that assesses the clinical safety of overseas-trained doctors who aren’t eligible to be registered through any of the Medical Council’s other pathways.
Those who pass must then undergo two years of supervised training to obtain full registration – giving them the right to practice here.
Change gives foreign-trained doctors hope
South African doctor Jacqui de Smidt, who took time away from work while raising a family, found returning to work in New Zealand wasn’t as straightforward as anticipated.
“They were very clear that work opportunities weren’t available for international doctors – that we were at the bottom of the pecking order,” she said.
“I would love to be in a context where I can bring my full skill set and be able to actually use that for patient care, rather than feeling like I’m not allowed to be half of who I am.”
But passing the NZREX exam is still no guarantee of a job.
Many doctors have previously expressed frustration that despite spending thousands on exam fees, they’ve struggled to gain the post-graduate role required for full registration.
Figures from the Medical Council show there are 27 who’ve passed the exam and are still to get work. Given the numbers already looking for work, there are questions if there will be jobs to match the rise in those foreign doctors who’ll obtain NZREX in 2025.
In the nursing sector, an influx of those sitting the equivalent registration has seen thousands invest their savings into the registration process, but still struggle to find work.
‘We need more doctors’ – minister
In response, Health Minister Shane Reti said he was confident the right balance has been struck for doctors. The minister added he had assurances from Te Whatu Ora that the agency had been working to find roles for those who successfully pass NZREX.
“We need more doctors. We need more primary care doctors … across the board, all of the regulatory authorities and myself are wanting to increase the number of well-qualified doctors to come into New Zealand,” he said.
“The first problem was to get them through the NZREX, and give them places so they could sit. Then the next challenge has been to find clinical placements.
“The expectation I have, and the discussions I’ve had with Health NZ and the [Health] Commissioner is that they will place them into clinical placements, so we can get them into the front line as soon as possible.”
Health NZ Te Whatu Ora chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan said while planning was still underway, the intent was to offer as many placements as they could to newly-trained NZREX doctors.
“The real focus here is trying to increase the number of doctors, reduce those vacancies in the system, and make sure we create a great experience for our home-grown team, but equally for those in the NZREX space, that they have a good opportunity to get into, and to help our communities,” he told 1News.
Health officials had been exploring a possible expansion of an earlier pilot scheme that incorporated foreign-trained doctors into primary care roles in Auckland and Waikato, in placements such as GP clinics and health centres.
Sullivan said: “We are working hard on that plan and so we have confidence … but until the budget’s lined up, we won’t have that full certainty.”
One of those who’s been involved in lobbying the politicians for change is psychiatrist Dr Anil Channa. He faced the same challenges himself some three decades ago.
“It was very hard, there were 300 or 400 doctors, some of them were driving taxis, and some were working in dairies, doing all sorts of odd jobs.
“It was a bit of a struggle, but eventually in two or three years time we all got through.”
Channa now takes on the fight for those who have followed in the years since.
He said it’s time there was a better long-term solution.
“I believe that after we solve the problem of doctors, who are presently struggling, we definitely need to have a long-term plan of how do we use this asset [of trained doctors] to fill in the gaps, and keep the system moving smoothly.”
He said it’s clear there’s a need for doctors, and there are many willing to do that work.
“We have the asset. And we have the need.
“All we have to do is put the two things together.”
