Despite increasing medical student numbers and a history of easy to obtain intern places, Tasmania suffers from a shortage of doctors with more medical students graduating than intern places on offer, says the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA).
President of AMSA Ross Roberts-Thomson said that without sufficient numbers of intern places, the community will not gain the full benefit from increases in medical student numbers intended to alleviate the current doctor shortage.
“Many mainland states are already struggling to cope and provide enough intern positions for their graduates.
“Over the next three years the total number of Australian medical graduates will increase by another 41 per cent from 2442 in 2009 to 3437 in 2012, with the nation requiring another 1001 extra intern places to cater for these graduates.
“As a result of this increase, Tasmania will soon have to look after its own graduates as medical students struggle to find intern places on the mainland,” said Mr Roberts-Thomson.
The number of doctors graduating from The University of Tasmania each year is due to increase by 17 per cent, from 98 in 2009 to 115 in 2012. However, only 65 places were available for these graduates in 2009, and at present the same amount will be available in 2013.
“While someother states have guaranteed their graduates intern positions, Tasmania has yet to do so.
“Not guaranteeing intern positions for future graduates means that the Tasmanian community will not receive the maximum benefit from the increases in student numbers coming through, and that is a situation in which everyone loses.
“AMSA calls on the Tasmanian Government to guarantee an intern position for every single Tasmanian medical school graduate,” said Mr Roberts-Thomson.
Media Contact:
Sam Kirchner.
0415 680 763
publicrelations@amsa.org.au
