Lexi Webster
Australia has a long history of medical immigration, with the country relying on foreign-trained doctors to supplement its healthcare workforce. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign-trained doctors migrating to Australia, with some suggesting that Indian-trained doctors now outnumber those from any other country. This trend is part of a broader boom in overseas health professionals moving to Australia, with the Australian government actively seeking to streamline the process of joining the Australian workforce for foreign-trained doctors. While some argue that it is harder for foreign-trained doctors to qualify in Australia compared to their locally trained counterparts, there is also a perception that they face discrimination in the registration and accreditation processes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Indian-trained doctors in OECD countries | 75,000 |
| Indian-trained doctors as a percentage of total OECD doctors | Not available |
| Number of overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) in Australia | 4,699 (in the first 10 months of the financial year 2023/24) |
| Number of OTDs in Australia since July 2022 | 8,910 |
| Number of doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals who moved to Australia since the election of the Albanese Government | Close to 43,000 |
| Number of doctors, engineers, and lawyers who have come to Australia in the past two years | 1.4 million |
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What You'll Learn
Indian-trained doctors in Australia face discrimination
Australia has a long history of relying on overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) to fill its medical workforce. In the nineteenth century, most immigrant doctors in Australia received their medical training in Britain. However, as Australia became self-sufficient in medical training, immigration policies became more restrictive, especially towards non-white immigrants. This period, known as the "White Australia Policy", lasted until the 1960s to 1970s, when the country began to see an influx of modern non-white immigrants, including doctors from India.
Today, India-trained doctors make up a significant portion of OTDs in Australia. In recent years, the number of Indian-trained doctors moving to developed countries has continued to grow, surpassing the number of professionals migrating from any other country. This trend is also observed in Australia, where Indian doctors are now the major contributors of international medical graduates (IMGs).
Despite their significant contributions, Indian-trained doctors in Australia face various challenges and discrimination. One of the main challenges is the difficulty in getting their credentials recognized by the Australian specialist colleges. This hurdle is not unique to Indian-trained doctors, as OTDs from other countries face similar obstacles in obtaining specialty recognition. However, there is a perception that OTDs and non-white doctors face additional discrimination in the accreditation process. For example, in one case, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine was criticized for passing only 6.8% of non-white applicants, while 88% of white caucasian applicants were successful.
Indian-trained doctors in Australia may also face cultural adjustments in their interactions with patients. Dr. Sachdev, who works with Indian agencies, observes that "doctor-shopping" for multiple opinions is common in India but can be frustrating for professionals in Australia. Additionally, Indian-trained doctors themselves have suggested improvements to the Indian healthcare system, including upgrading facilities, improving working conditions, and reducing bureaucratic and political interference.
To address the perceived discrimination against OTDs in Australia, several inquiries and investigations have been conducted. In 2010, the Minister for Health and Ageing launched an inquiry into the registration and accreditation processes for IMGs, leading to recommendations for procedural fairness, transparency, and efficiency in recognizing OTDs. Additionally, Australia's watchdog organization for national competitions investigated allegations of racism in the accreditation of surgeons, specifically in the case of an Indian-born fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons who was told to undergo additional training despite his qualifications and experience. These efforts reflect a commitment to ensuring fairer and less discriminatory treatment for Indian-trained doctors and all OTDs in Australia.
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Recognition of qualifications is difficult for Indian doctors
Indian-trained doctors make up a significant portion of the medical workforce in Australia, with the country relying on doctors from overseas, particularly from India, the UK, Malaysia, China, and New Zealand. However, recognition of qualifications for Indian doctors in Australia has been a challenging issue.
Historically, Australia had a restricted immigration policy that favoured whites, known as the "White Australia Policy," which ended around 1966 to 1973. Since then, Australia has seen an increase in overseas-trained doctors, including those from India. Despite this shift, Indian doctors continue to face challenges in getting their qualifications recognized in Australia.
One of the main obstacles is the stringent recognition process. Indian doctors seeking specialist recognition in Australia must undergo an initial specialist college assessment, which has been criticized for its high costs and complex paperwork requirements. Additionally, there is a perception that overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) and non-white doctors face discrimination in the recognition process. For example, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine was criticized for a disproportionate pass rate between non-white and white applicants.
Furthermore, even with mutual qualification recognition agreements between India and Australia, Indian doctors still need to pass additional exams and meet industry requirements to practice in the country. This indicates that while qualifications are recognized on paper, there are still significant hurdles for Indian doctors to overcome before they can practice medicine in Australia.
While workforce shortages in rural areas have driven medical immigration, Indian doctors often face challenges in finding jobs in certain specialties, such as surgical fields and cardiology. On the other hand, areas like general practice, psychiatry, and critical care medicine are more consistently in need of doctors. The costs associated with relocating to Australia for work, including the assessment and recognition process, can also be substantial.
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Why are so many Indian doctors moving to Australia?
Australia has a long history of relying on immigrant doctors to support its healthcare system. In the nineteenth century, most immigrant doctors in Australia had received their medical training in Britain, but as the country became self-sufficient in medical training, immigration of doctors became less important. However, workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, continued to drive medical immigration.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Indian-trained doctors moving to Australia. In fact, Indian-trained doctors make up the largest number of overseas-trained doctors in Australia, surpassing professionals from any other country. Several factors have contributed to this trend. One reason is the perception of better working conditions and more opportunities for personal and professional growth in Australia. OECD countries, including Australia, offer better opportunities for research and development, which may be a factor in attracting Indian-trained doctors.
Additionally, policy changes in Australia have also played a role. In 2023, the Albanese Government cut unnecessary red tape that made it harder to recruit doctors from overseas, allocating $90 million to streamline the process for overseas-educated doctors to join the Australian workforce. This has made it easier for Indian-trained doctors to register and practise in Australia.
However, there have also been challenges for Indian-trained doctors in Australia. Some sources suggest that overseas-trained doctors face discrimination and that it is harder for them to qualify and be recognised as specialists compared to locally trained doctors. There have been high-profile cases involving overseas-trained doctors, such as the Haneef saga, which led to a sharp decline in Indian doctors applying for jobs in Australia. Despite these challenges, the number of Indian-trained doctors moving to Australia continues to grow, contributing to the country's healthcare system.
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Australia's immigration policy and its impact on Indian doctors
Australia has had a restricted immigration policy in place since the 1950s, where potential immigrants are assessed based on a number of characteristics, including education and profession. This policy, referred to as the "White Australia Policy", was gradually abolished after 1956, but it took about a decade for the restrictive immigration policies to be fully unwound. During this time, immigration officials administered a dictation test at the port of entry, which limited the entry of many foreign nationals.
Despite the official end of the White Australia Policy between 1966 and 1973, there is a perception that discrimination against Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) and non-white doctors in particular, continues. OTDs face significant hurdles in obtaining licensing and specialty recognition, with some alleging discrimination in the registration and accreditation processes. A study showed that OTDs attracted 24% more complaints and 41% more adverse findings than non-OTDs, though it is acknowledged that complaints are not always an objective measure of deficient practices.
In 2010, the Minister for Health and Ageing launched an inquiry into the registration and accreditation processes for International Medical Graduates (IMGs), which resulted in recommendations for procedural fairness, transparency, and efficiency in recognizing IMGs, especially for specialist training and qualifications. IMGs have made important contributions to Australian healthcare, particularly in rural areas, where there is a government policy to encourage immigration for such graduates. Visas and registration are more likely to be obtained if the immigrant goes to an area in need.
To qualify for a skilled visa for doctors in Australia, certain nominated occupations are required to obtain a Health Workforce Certificate (HWC) or a Health Workforce Exemption Certificate (HWEC), confirming that there is a genuine need to fill a primary healthcare position by an overseas doctor. All medical practitioners must also obtain professional registration from the Medical Board of Australia to work in the country and qualify for a skilled visa.
In recent years, the number of overseas-born doctors in Australia has increased, with the largest numbers coming from the UK, India, Malaysia, China, and New Zealand. In 2011, more than half of GPs (56%) and just under half of specialists (47%) were born overseas, up from 46% and 37% respectively in 2001. This trend of Indian-trained doctors moving to developed countries shows no sign of slowing, surpassing the number of professionals migrating from any other country.
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The number of Indian doctors in Australia vs other countries
Australia has a long history of relying on overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) to bolster its healthcare workforce. In the nineteenth century, most immigrant doctors in Australia received their medical training in Britain, but this began to change in the twentieth century as Australia became self-sufficient in medical training. Since then, Australia has continued to welcome doctors from overseas, with the largest numbers coming from the UK, India, Malaysia, China, and New Zealand. In 2011, more than half of GPs (56%) and just under half of specialists (47%) in Australia were born overseas.
While the number of OTDs in Australia has grown in recent years, there are still some challenges faced by these doctors. One issue is the difficulty of getting Australian specialist colleges to recognize their foreign credentials. This has resulted in a smaller number of OTDs being registered after 2011, as many are still in supervised positions working towards specialty recognition. Additionally, there is a perception that OTDs and non-white doctors face discrimination in Australia. For example, a study showed that OTDs attracted 24% more complaints and 41% more adverse findings than non-OTDs.
Despite these challenges, Australia remains an attractive destination for Indian-trained doctors. In 2017, around 69,000 Indian-trained physicians were working in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, according to the OECD. Indian-trained doctors are drawn to Australia by the promise of better working conditions, more opportunities for personal and professional growth, and better research and development opportunities. The number of Indian-trained doctors moving to developed countries continues to grow, surpassing the number of professionals migrating from any other country.
When compared to other countries, India is the world's largest source for immigrant physicians. In the OECD alone, there are 75,000 India-trained doctors, outnumbering those trained in any other country. Popular destinations for Indian health professionals include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. While India used to top the number of internationally trained doctors in the United States and the United Kingdom, the share of internationally educated health professionals in these countries has declined in recent years due to increased domestic graduate production. However, international migration has continued to grow for other destinations, including most OECD countries.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to provide an exact number as migration is ongoing and continuous. However, a recent report found that 75,000 India-trained doctors work in the OECD, and Australia is a part of this organisation. In the first 10 months of the 2023 financial year, 4,699 doctors from overseas registered to practise in Australia, a 50% increase from the previous year.
There are various reasons for the migration of Indian doctors to Australia. One source states that the Indian health system needs an overhaul to improve working conditions and upgrade facilities. Another source states that OECD countries, of which Australia is one, offer better opportunities for research and development.
Indian doctors, along with other overseas-trained doctors (OTDs), face a number of challenges when seeking to practise in Australia. These include stringent registration and accreditation processes, difficulties in getting their specialist qualifications recognised, and potential discrimination.
