Vic: Medical indemnity driving out surgeons
MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - Medical indemnity insurance will drive 25 per cent of Australiansurgeons aged over 55 from private practice in the next six months, according to a newsurvey.
The survey, conducted by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and released today,also found that a further 20 per cent would retire from public practice by the end ofthe year.
The college's president Anne Kolbe called for the federal government to address themedical indemnity crisis or lose the health system's most experienced professionals.
"This is incredibly alarming as almost 40 per cent of the surgical workforce in Australiais aged over 55 and this age bracket represents our most experienced surgeons," Ms Kolbesaid.
"We are not going to have the surgeons to operate or pass on their skills to the youngergeneration."
The college wants the federal government to defer payment on medical indemnity forat least 12 months for surgeons who are financially disadvantaged and reduce indemnitypayments for those surgeons on lower incomes.
"We want to meet with the government immediately to stop surgeons leaving the profession,"
Ms Kolbe said.
"The implications for the future of Australian surgery are critical."
AAP mf/gfr/mk/jlw
KEYWORD: SURGEONS
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