The AMA has called for a major revamp of the IMG employment system, claiming the current system is outdated and exposing overseas doctors to “red tape, isolation, racism, and insufficient support and supervision”.

In its latest position statement, the AMA says the more than 40,000 IMGs registered in Australia are substantial contributors to the medical workforce, making up 53% of the rural workforce and 43% of GPs.

It’s demanding fairer employment policies for them by making recruitment processes more ethical and transparent, improving cumbersome visa and registration pathways, and providing comprehensive and well-resourced supervision and support.

To do this, the AMA says visa sponsorship should be decoupled from individual employers to increase IMGs’ autonomy and job security, competency-based assessment pathways expanded and funded minimum supervision standards set. It also suggests more structured training and support for IMG supervisors.

The AMA takes aim at the 10-year moratorium on Medicare provider numbers for IMGs to address the chronic doctor maldistribution, arguing its original objectives “are no longer aligned with contemporary workforce needs”.

Instead, it claims that by placing IMGs in demanding settings with little preparation, professional development and support, the moratorium is actually risking deskilling IMGs and increasing transient rural workforces.

It wants the moratorium reduced or dismantled and replaced with stronger rural incentives and supports that encourage locally trained doctors and appropriately skilled IMGs to pursue rural and remote practice.

To increase the appeal and affordability of becoming an IMG, the AMA suggests reducing the cost of Australian Medical Council exams and expanding onboarding support, including housing, schooling, and spousal employment assistance.