International Briefs

National Boards' New Guidance Ahead of Register Updates

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has published the National Boards' new guidance on adding information about sexual misconduct to the register of practitioners. Under changes to the National Law, practitioners who have a tribunal finding of professional misconduct with a basis of sexual misconduct will have this information permanently added to the public register. The measure provides the public with the information they need and expect when choosing a health practitioner. It will be retrospective and come into effect in April 2026. National Boards are responsible for deciding if a tribunal finding of professional misconduct included a basis of sexual misconduct. Any matters that meet the requirements will be referenced on the relevant practitioner's register entry with a link to the tribunal decision where publicly available. Health ministers decided in 2024 that sexual misconduct findings should be added to the register. After parliaments passed the necessary legislative amendments, Ahpra embarked on extensive legal and policy analysis to implement the changes. The new Guidance has been significantly improved because of consultation feedback on an earlier, initial draft in September-October. Further information is available at https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-12-16-National-Boards-new-guidance.aspx

Targeted Immigration Measures to Boost Supply of Doctors

On December 8, 2025, the Honorable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announced new measures to support Canada's health care system by making the path to permanent residence simpler for international doctors. As part of these measures, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will create a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years. These doctors are already working in Canada on a temporary basis, helping patients and contributing to the health care system. These doctors will be given a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians. Invitations to apply for the new Express Entry category will be issued in early 2026. The Government of Canada will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These spaces are in addition to the annual Provincial Nominee Program allocations. Doctors who are nominated will receive expedited 14-day work permit processing, allowing them to work while awaiting permanent residence. These measures also support the broader International Talent Attraction Strategy, which aims to strengthen the jobs and industries that drive Canada's economy and communities, while helping restore balance and long-term sustainability in The Canadian immigration system. Further information is available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/targeted-immigration-measures-to-boost-canadas-supply-of-doctors.html

New Directive on Employment of Kenyan Doctors Over Foreign Medics

The Ministry of Health has announced a policy directive that prioritizes the employment, licensing, and deployment of Kenyan-trained health professionals over foreign practitioners. In a statement on January 7, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya will now give first consideration to local practitioners before routinely licensing foreign doctors and other health professionals. He explained that the directive is driven by the significant public funds invested in training health workers, making it necessary to ensure Kenyans benefit first from those investments.

"The Ministry of Health wishes to clarify that Kenya will prioritize the licensing and deployment of qualified Kenyan health practitioners before considering the routine licensing of foreign doctors and other health professionals. The Government has invested substantial public resources drawn from Kenyan taxpayers into training doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and specialists at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is therefore both prudent and just that Kenyans trained using public resources are given priority to serve our country."

Further information is available at https://nairobileo.co.ke/news/article/25019/govt-issues-new-directive-on-employment-of-kenyan-doctors-over-foreign-medics

New Rules for Doctors, Nurses, and Allied Professions

Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi has issued a ministerial decision approving comprehensive general conditions and regulatory controls governing the licensing of medical practice and supporting health professions in both the government and private healthcare sectors. The move comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen professional governance and regulate the practice of health professions within clear legal and procedural frameworks, with the aim of safeguarding patient safety and enhancing the quality of healthcare services. The Ministry of Health stated that the decision is based on the provisions of Law No. 70 of 2020, which regulates the practice of medicine and related professions, as well as the rights of patients and healthcare facilities. The decision represents a continuation of the Ministry's regulatory policies aimed at modernizing the health licensing system and unifying its administrative and technical references. These measures are intended to keep pace with rapid developments in the healthcare sector while striking a balance between professional practice requirements and the protection of public interest. Further information is available at https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/new-rules-set-for-doctors-nurses-and-allied-professions-in-kuwait/

New Survey to Launch in 2026

On December 10, 2025, The General Medical Council (GMC) announced that in 2026 it will carry out a comprehensive survey of the UK's tens of thousands of LE (locally employed) and SAS (specialty, associate specialist, and specialist) doctors. The 2026 survey will be the first the time since 2019 the regulator has asked LE and SAS doctors—skilled practitioners who are not in formal training to become consultants or GPs—about their work, including their access to training and development. In England and Wales, the only UK countries where the GMC currently has data, there were more than 38,000 licensed LE doctors in 2024, more than three times the number a decade earlier. SAS doctors totaled around 12,500, a 48% increase compared with 2014. The 2019 survey revealed that many, in both cohorts, faced challenges in career progression, as well as unfair treatment from colleagues, patients or patients' families, including rudeness, incivility, belittling and humiliation.

Since that survey, the GMC has strengthened its guidance for all doctors on professional behaviors and speaking up, established stronger relationships with LE and SAS doctor stakeholders, and is improving the data it holds. It has also made access to the specialist register more flexible and evidence-based for doctors who have not completed a UK training program, benefitting many doctors in LE and SAS roles. Data from the new survey will help inform a GMC review of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training. The comprehensive review, the first for more than a decade, will take place over the next five years and will look at the standards, design, outcomes and delivery of doctors’ education, training and career development.

Source: https://www.gmc-uk.org/news/news-archive/gmc-to-launch-new-survey-of-tens-of-thousands-of-uk-doctors