Prognosis poor on GP graduate rates

The number of medical graduates choosing to become GPs is falling amid ongoing political debate over Medicare.

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone. Picture: Kym Smith

Medical graduates are shunning a career in general practice amid the ongoing political debate over Medicare, with an unexpected decline in people taking up training positions this year and next.

As Health Minister Greg Hunt continues to work with the GP groups on funding reforms, with announcements expected before the next election, his department is talking to the sector about the sudden drop in interest in becoming a GP.

In five of the past six years, the number of registrars who accepted training positions through the Australian General Practice Training Program exceeded the number on offer.

However, in 2018 the program, offering 1500 places, was left with a shortfall of 40.

There was also a 12 per cent drop in applications, to the lowest level of interest since 2014 when almost 400 fewer positions were on offer.

The Weekend Australian understands that in the first round for next year there is already another significant shortfall. If the trend continues, and more graduates choose other specialties over general practice, it could undermine government plans to reduce the supply of overseas-trained GPs in favour of a locally trained workforce.

“The Health Department is working closely with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the General Practice Training Advisory Committee to better understand why this has occurred and develop strategies to address any issues identified,” a department spokesman said.

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone, a GP, is lobbying both sides of politics to commit to increased investment in general practice. So, too, is RACGP president Harry Nespolon, who wants it to be an election priority.

With a federal election due before May next year, Bill Shorten is still promising another campaign on Medicare. This week the Opposition Leader announced former AMA president Brian Owler as a candidate, anointing him “Mr Medicare”.

However, Labor has yet to announce a policy on Medicare, preferring to keep rallying supporters against the Coalition. It has announced a policy on Medicare-eligible MRI machines, since matched by the Coalition, and hinted at fast-tracking the Medicare re-indexation timeline.

Mr Hunt yesterday downplayed the prospect of Labor gaining traction on Medicare, saying he believed voters were more concerned about new drugs being listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, mental health and medical research.

“Medicare is only one aspect of health and we’re very happy to fight on health,” the minister said.

Mr Hunt foreshadowed three tranches of reform announcements on general practice, partly in response to issues with the Health Care Home trial and the need for new funding mechanisms for chronic care.

“Fee-for-service will remain the bedrock but what the AMA and the RACGP are requesting is more investment in multichannel chronic care,” he said, all-but confirming an increase in funding.