Australia
Medical Board of Australia Holds Culture of Medicine Symposium
Leaders across Australia’s medical community met in Melbourne in late May to build support and commitment to improving the culture of medicine.
The symposium aimed to build a common understanding of current problems and a shared commitment to positive change. Participants identified improved awareness and understanding of cultural safety, meaningful action on racism and collaborations to help effect change as a focus for future effort. Dr. Anne Tonkin, Medical Board of Australia Chair, said cultural change is complicated and everyone across medicine has a role in improving the culture of medicine.
Results from the Board’s Medical Training Survey (www.medicaltrainingsurvey.gov.au) have shown that while medical training in Australia is generally in good shape, there are serious cultural problems in medicine, including bullying, harassment, racism, and discrimination.
Symposium participants included representatives from the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA), the AMA Council of Doctors in Training, medical students, specialist medical colleges, jurisdictions, employers, advocates, insurers, academics, and clinicians.
Source: Medical Board of Australia news release, June 7, 2022
Canada
Medical Council of Canada Announces Compassionate Virtual Care Educational Resource
Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine has expanded. Guides and resources have been developed to support physicians in providing safe and effective virtual care in their practice and training. However, when it comes to compassionate care, the in-person approach does not easily translate into virtual care, which poses a challenge, especially since little guidance or resources currently exist.
To help provide additional physician support, in July 2022 the Medical Council of Canada is launching a new module focused on compassionate virtual care in the Communication and Cultural Competence orientation program. Created with funding received from AMS Healthcare, the Compassionate Virtual Care module explores how virtual care can both support and challenge the concept of compassionate care, which is rooted in the fundamental notion that the patient and physician are whole human beings in their interactions.
Designed for internationally and Canadian-trained physicians, this newest addition to the free self-education program delves into the provision of compassionate care through the expanded use of digital health technologies and virtual contexts in Canadian health care.
Source: Medical Council of Canada ECHO Newsletter, June 2022
FAIMER
Pakistan Medical Commission Announces Launch of the PMC National Medical Scholarship Fund
The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) welcomes the International FAIMER Institute (IFI) class of 2022, who began their two-year online fellowship in June.
The IFI is for international health professions faculty who have demonstrated the potential to undertake a key role in advancing health professions education. The core curriculum of the program is designed to teach education methods, leadership and management, education scholarship and research, project management and evaluation, and quality assurance, as well as to develop strong professional bonds with other health professions educators around the world.
The 2022 IFI Fellows are:
Asmaa Abdel Nasser, Ph.D., M.H.P.E, M.B.Ch.B.: Suez Canal University Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
Gustavo Antonio Raimondi, M.D, Ph.D, M.S: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Faculdade de Medicina, Brazil
Wilfred Arubaku, M.Sc, D.D.S.: Mbarara University of Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine, Uganda
Gaurang Baxi, Ph.D.: Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Physiotherapy, India
Purvi Bhagat, D.O., M.S., M.B.B.S.: B.J. Medical College, India
Prashanth, M.D, M.B.B.S., MRCPCH, GP: Oman Medical College, Oman
Saaid Jama, M.B.B.S.: University of Health Sciences, Somalia
Siaw Liew, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc.: Perdana University Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine, Malaysia
Margaret Lubwama, M.B.Ch.B., MMed: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda
Shisi Lun, M.Sc.: China Medical University, China
Vinay Oommen, M.D., M.B.B.S.: Christian Medical College, India
Asma Rahim, M.D., D.N.B., M.B.B.S.: Government Medical College Kozhikode, India
Randa Reda, M.D., M.B.Ch.B.: Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
Sana Saeed, M.B.B.S., M.H.P.E.: Aga Khan University Medical College, Pakistan
Tonderai Shumba, Ph.D., M.P.H., B.Sc.: University of Namibia School of Medicine, Namibia
Emma Thomson, M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.S.: College of Medicine, University of Malawi, South Africa
Paricha Upadhyaya, M.D., M.B.B.S.: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal
Yuanxi Wang, M.S.Ed.: Southern Medical University, China
Widya Wasityastuti, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.E., M.Sc.: Universitas Gadjah Mada Sekip Fakultas Kedokteran, Indonesia
Rubeena Zakar, Ph.D., M.S., M.B.B.S.: Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, India
Source: FAIMER news release, June 2, 2022
New Zealand
Medical Council Releases 2021 Workforce Survey Results
The Medical Council of New Zealand released the results of its New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2021 Survey on May 31, 2022. The report was drawn from the feedback gathered when a doctor applied for the annual practicing certificate, and provides an overview of the current medical workforce, insights into the changing demographics of the profession, and the trends around where and how doctors are working.
Key findings include:
The number of practicing doctors increased. The total number of doctors on the register with practicing certificates increased by 3.6% in 2021 from 17,671 to 18,308.
The fastest-growing specialties were emergency medicine, urgent care, and internal medicine.
The number of doctors registered in emergency medicine increased by over 12% between 2020 and 2021. Urgent care increased by 6.4 % and internal medicine increased by 4.3%
New Zealand retained 90 % of its medical graduates from the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 cohorts for 5 years after initial registration. Retention for earlier cohorts at the same point averaged just under 80%.
The proportion of practicing doctors who are women increased from 46.2% in 2020 to 46.9% in the 2021 survey.
Source: Medical Council of New Zealand news release, May 31, 2022
