COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS OF MEDICAL COLLEGES
COMMUNIQUE: February 2021
Dr Kym Jenkins, CPMC Chair welcomed all Presidents of Australia’s specialist Medical Colleges and the Professional Observer organisations to the 149th meeting of CPMC. All participants acknowledged the traditional owners of the lands upon which the meeting was held.
Dr Jenkins announced the outcome of CPMC election for Chair-elect with Dr Vijay Roach, FRANZCOG and President Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists having been successful. Dr Mark Fulcher was welcomed as the President Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Physicians to Council (ACSEP).
CPMC Chair and CEO continue to participate in the range of Australian government-led taskforces and steering groups associated with the management of the pandemic. All Colleges are preparing contingency plans for the management of snap lockdowns, outbreaks and border closures affecting trainee examinations and the information will also be incorporated into the Training Review project.
CPMC now has one third of member College Presidents based in New Zealand. Vaccination rollout will occur similarly to the Australian program. There is laboratory capacity to surge test and undertake genomic testing to determine the origin of any outbreaks. New Zealand medical training has synchronised with the Australian training program in 2021.
Council congratulated Professor Kate Leslie AO as the new President of the Australian Medical Council. The AMC intends to convene assessment workshops in 2021 to support specialist medical colleges to consider their assessment approaches for specialty registration, and design programs of assessment that balance workplace-based assessment and other methods and are accessible and relevant.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly discussed the COVID vaccine and other key public policy initiatives in population health. Council noted the approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of the second vaccine following that of Pfizer, by AstraZeneca Pty Ltd, and supports COVID vaccines as they are safe and effective. As specialists are the experts in medical advice CPMC will partner with government in communicating vaccine related information to the Australian public as the program rolls out. https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines
Dr Anne Tonkin, Chair Medical Board of Australia reported on the initial findings of the second National Medical Training Survey; the new CPD standard and health checks for late careers medical practitioners. The pandemic sub-register will be extended for a further twelve months.
Dr Simone Raye Vice-President Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association advised of the AIDA 2021 to occur in a hybrid model via the Gold Coast on 30 June – 2 July. CPMC will attend the conference. AIDA work continues in cultural safety, mentoring and growing Fellows.
Professor Villis Marshall, Chair Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care referred to the public consultation on the draft credentialling and defining scope of clinical practice guide for clinicians and managers, out for consultation by 30 April 2021.
Dr Omar Khorshid, President Australian Medical Association referred the importance of contingency planning for trainee examinations, and their position in relation to the management of COVID vaccinations.
Dr Richard Murray, President Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand referred to the importance of all stakeholders working to better align the training pathway and predict for future shortages and over supply of medical doctors especially in rural Australia.
Dr Claire Blizzard President, Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils referred to the issues for junior doctors and the National Medical Workforce Strategy.
Ms Sophie Keen, President Australian Medical Student’s Association noted it is 60 years since AMSA was established with an advocacy platform covering international and national concerns raised by medical students. On COVID the Chief Medical Officer confirmed medical students are classified as frontline workers.
Dr Hashim Abdeen, President AMA Council of Doctors in Training presented on the recent trainee forum and raised issues in relation to trainee exams, engagement with Colleges and improving employment arrangements for GP registrars.
An update on the implementation of Accreditation Systems Review and introduction of a National Health Practitioner Ombudsman was provided to Colleges.
College Presidents will continue to meet monthly. Contact: Angela +61437227422
Professions Observer Organisations at the President and Chief Executive Officer level
• Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges
• Australian Medical Council
• Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer
• National Health & Medical Research Council
• Medical Board of Australia / AHPRA
• Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association
• Aust Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care
• Australian Medical Association
• Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand
• Confederation of PG Medical Education Councils
• Australian Medical Student’s Association
• AMA Council of Doctor’s in Training