The Health Minister is pushing ahead with changes to the health workforce after consultation that sparked worries in the health sector, including over greater political influence at the expense of clinical independence.
Simeon Brown said the changes will modernise the process and remove what he called ‘outdated and bureaucratic red tape’.
The planned amendments to legislation will allow overseas trained health professionals to be registered more quickly, and make regulators more accountable.
But the Medical Council, which sets standards of clinical and cultural competence, says the real problem is the retention of doctors.
The council has expressed concerns the changes could see increasing political control. Kathryn speaks to the Chair of the Medical Council, Dr Rachelle Love, who is a Christchurch head and neck surgeon.
