The main issues with Dr Jayant Patel were the lack of oversight by the QLD Health authorities in assessing his pre-entry record, and lack of supervision once here.

All medical professions require some degree of accountability and oversight, as well as support. In the meantime, I will continue to go to and recommend my excellent local Indian GP.

[Deleted for abuse].

As a Doctor I have considerable experience working with Overseas trained doctors. Asa general rule they are not up to the standard of Australian trained doctors. I have worked with some in the hospitals whom the hospitals administration would not allow to work by themselves. The administration was so concerned with their training and abilities that they had to be constantly supervised by an Australian doctor.
This article by Dr Ahmed is littered with subjective bias and misleading comments. For instance

"Moreover, they worked in areas where locally trained doctors would not."

"overseas-trained doctors serving our rural and remote communities."

"They have treated thousands of patients, delivered babies at small local hospitals and stayed on call seven days a week."

"filling a need in remote communities"

The truth is that these doctors are simply trying as best they can to gain residency in a rich western country where they can line their pockets and live a rich western lifestyle. They are made to by law, work in areas of medical need for a specified time before they can have access to claim medicare payments. They do not, in no way, do this out of the goodness of their hearts or for compassionate reasons. They do it to gain residency. Dr Ahmed tries to give the distinct impression that they do this because they are good people, "serving our rural and remote communities", "filling a need". Rubbish, they do it to gain Australian residency to get rich.


Dr Ahmed states there objective...
"They are forming the most successful immigrant group in the world, as measured by education status and income."

I'm sure they are very well off. I have worked with them in private practice. They illegally charge higher medicare item numbers to defraud medicare. Every few months doctors are given a report from the medical practitioners board regarding investigations of doctors for misconduct. This is usually full of OTDs.

Continued....

Dr Ahmed states
"Their lower pass rates in the required training examinations"

Why is that?

Also
"Overseas doctors are now known as international medical graduates, a term believed to be less stigmatised."
So now we are using politically correct terms to disguise the truth.

Dr Ahmed then gives away their true motivation..
"Douglas believes those who have not yet received permanent residency, or are still trying to gain Australian qualifications, will miss out once local graduates become available."


Also..
"This in spite of their huge personal and financial sacrifices to help serve needy areas."

Yes out of the goodness of their hearts.

In addition to what has been said there are hundreds of doctors now working in australia that were given free, yes free Medical degrees paid for by Australian taxpayers and in addition free accommodation and living expenses paid for by Australian taxpayers. This was done to provide free training for people from developing countries to become doctors so that they can return to their countries and contribute to developing their countries. However most of these doctors just after completing their medical degrees suddenly decide to apply for Australian residency, with total disregard for the hundreds of thousands spent on them by Australian taxpayers. The final result is we take people from an overseas, pay their full expenses tuition and living expenses to become an Asutralian doctor whilst some Australian taxpayers son or daughter misses out.

Unlike the previous poster I look forward to Leigh's educated and truthful comments on such topics

I think we've established Ozzie that you aren't really a doctor ;-)

Even if you were, what type of doctor spends so much time venting his hatred on a website? Shouldn't you be curing cancer? Thank God or Allah for the overseas doctors.

I agree with JJ, Leigh's comments are usually rubbish.

jjplug - you are out of order.
Kindly respond to viewpoints you disagree with rather than pre-empting anyone else's possible posts.

An overseas (Egyptian) doctor working in the Public Hospital system inspired me to purchase top level private medical insurance in the late 80s. I had absolutely no intention of letting him near me or mine should we ever need hospital treatment.

Having said that - there are variable levels of competence across the board no matter where the doctor comes from or trained. The most trusted gut surgeon in my area is Sri Lankin. There are several other specialists of Eastern/Middle Eastern background who also enjoy good reputations and one who doesn't. Similar for Australian counterparts.

As McReal wrote: " main issues with Dr Jayant Patel were the lack of oversight by the QLD Health authorities in assessing his pre-entry record, and lack of supervision once here."

Absolutely! Patel is convicted & sentenced. However the persons responsible for his appointment and subsequent lack of follow up should be sharing his cell.

I agree with Tanveer Ahmed that average Australians have some initial difficulty with non-western, english second language Doctors. Quite natural, but also quickly overcome once patients find the doctor capable and trust established. One critical point I make is about language. OS Doctors need to speak and understand English WELL. Not all do. This becomes potentially dangerous as well as frustrating for patients. There are also odd cases of medicos from different cultural backgrounds dealing inappropriately with patients, particularly female. The OS doctor needs induction training into what is acceptable in the Australian setting.

Apart from that - we have been importing Medical professionals for as long as I can remember and given lack of adequate intake of students to fulfil Australia's requirements, will continue to do so. Provided proper systems are in place to ensure those imports meet appropriate standards AND followed carefully - problems will be rare.

Most do an excellent job and are quickly embraced by communities they serve - especially in rural and remote areas. Keep up the good work guys!