Gastroenterology training spots face the chop

Medicopolitical

By Tessa Hoffman

11 Jun 2017

Plans are afoot to pull federal funding for gastroenterology training posts, following predictions of workforce oversupply.

The Specialist Training Program (STP) funds about seven percent of all advanced medical training places, with the balance funded by the states and territories.

The program funds some 900 posts across 12 specialties, with a key aim to bolster workforce shortages in rural and regional areas.

A recent review of the program examining workforce numbers found some specialties will face future gluts, with gastroenterology and hepatology predicted to reach a 15 per cent “oversupply” by 2030.

In response, it suggests pulling funding to eight gastroenterology training posts, along with five  plastic surgery and one otolaryngology (ENT) positions.

Meanwhile, it recommends funding more posts for radiation oncology and radiology.

But while oversupply of gastroenterologists may occur in the major cities, some country areas remain under-serviced, according to Associate Professor Ian Norton, president of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA).

“The feeling with most of my colleagues is there probably isn’t an oversupply of gastroenterologists, the problem is the distribution of them,” he told the limbic.

Proffessor Norton said he understood the STP shake-up would see 11 gastroenterology posts de-funded, three more than in the draft report, including two in regional NSW.

This represents about 15 per cent of all gastroenterology training posts, he said.

“It’s not decimating the number of advanced trainees, but I would be disappointed if urban jobs were maintained and regional jobs were the ones to go.”

But the posts may not be lost, he says, with state and territory governments approached to take over funding.

The AMA is also concerned about maldistribution, predicting a shortfall of 569 STP training posts next year, rising to 1000 by 2030.

“Clearly there is a regional rural mismatch, however there is no overall cut to STP funding,” said AMA vice president Dr Tony Bartone.

The maldistribution problem must be tackled by an overhaul in the vocational training model, says Professor Richard Murray, Dean of the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University.

“What’s actually required is a joined-up approach with the Commonwealth with state and territory governments, together with the colleges (and universities), so we can attempt to come to agreement on a more regionalised system, training fewer people in the large capital city teaching hospitals and more people in the outer metropolitan, regional and remote hospitals.”

The Royal College of Physicians declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Health said it is discussing the outcomes of the review’s final report with specialist colleges and the document “will be published in coming weeks”.

Already a member?

Login to keep reading.

OR
Email me a login link