- The Council of Procedural Specialists supports the concerns of Prof Nicholas Talley, Chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC). Talley said “the objectives of the National Registration and Accreditation scheme, in particular the protection of the public through the provision of high quality education and training and rigorous assessment of standards, will not be met by the recommendations of this review”.[1]
- The function of accreditation of Australia’s medical education and training programs is critical to the maintenance of high standards in medical practice, including procedural medicine. For this reason, the expertise and independence of the Australian Medical Council has always been highly valued. The AMC has and must remain independent of government and commercial interests.
- COPS supports the AMC’s own position that “the AMC does not support the proposal for a single accreditation authority. It is not clear that the work entailed in creating such a structure will lead to improved outcomes or enhance the innovation currently possible in medicine.”[2]
- COPS notes with concern the following statement from the ASR: ‘Although not referenced in the National Law, one of the principles is that “While we balance all the objectives of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, our primary consideration is to protect the public.” The Review considers that this is a retrograde step, with safety and quality potentially being offered as reasons to resist beneficial innovation and the development of a flexible, responsive and sustainable workforce.’[3] COPS maintains this shift in emphasis away from safety and quality as a paramount consideration of the accreditation process is of grave concern.
- As such, COPS does not support the establishment of a Health Education Accreditation Board and recommends that the AMC remain in its current role, medically led and independent of government and commercial influence.
Dr Gary Speck AM, Chairman
Council of Procedural Specialists
16 October 2017
[1] Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges, Australian Medical Regulation Must Remain Independent, 18 Sept 2017, http://cpmc.edu.au/media-release/australian-medical-regulation-must-remain-independent/
[2] AMC, AMC submission to national accreditation systems review, May 2017, p. 24, http://www.amc.org.au/
[3] Accreditation Systems Review – Draft Report, September 2017, p. 95, http://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Projects/Accreditation-Systems-Review
