Beatie certainly has a lot of issues with his Health management. Whilst he is "johnny on the spot" and is responsible, he is not at the top of the medical food chain. His issues are not uniques with all States and Territories having similar problems of trying to fill country hosipals with health professionals.
Here in Victoria a large percentage of HMOs (hospital medical officers) are imports. These doctors do not need Australian certification as HMOs. In theory they are temporary and will only need to undergo Aust certification and testing IF they wish to stay in Australia.
Beattie was caught out with Dr Death but I suspect there are other cases around Australia waiting to happen.
Health costs are escalating at three times inflation and everyone in the political arena want to pass the buck. The best solution is for the Fed to take total control which means all the State hospitals. Then they have a total "craddle to grave" control with tertiary training, specialty positions, hospitals (both training and tertiary) and pharmaceutical. Then we can get some better co-ordination, efficiencies, negotiated public treatment and national scorecardsand......government accountability.
